Miserable weather and a tough one-goal loss. Not what the Red Foxes wanted from their trip to Buffalo.
The Marist Women’s Soccer team was shut out in a 1-0 loss to Canisius on Wednesday afternoon in Buffalo.
Canisius started the game in full control, as they maintained the majority of the possession. The Golden Griffins created chances early, forcing action from Marist graduate student goalkeeper Natalie Kelchner. She [Kelchner] had to come off her line in order to keep the Canisius offense in check. The home side was unable to challenge Kelchner in the opening twenty minutes, as most of their shots were off target.
Marist was unable to get anything going offensively, as they were unable to hold possession for large periods of the game. The Red Foxes had trouble creating chances in the first half, and they did not register a shot on goal. The Marist backline stayed strong until the 29th minute, when Canisius freshman forward Mia Iacona scored her first collegiate goal.
Canisius sophomore defender Erin Weir played a pass to Iacona, who took a heavy touch after receiving the ball. Iacona turned and fired a looping shot to the far corner over the outstretched arms of Kelchner. The goal was long overdue for Canisius, as they had dominated the half.
The Red Foxes were outshot 9-2 in the first half, and they were only able to create one quality chance prior to the break. In the 34th minute, Marist sophomore defender Grace Hennig played a header into the box that found the feet of senior forward Brooke Cergol, who was unable to find the wide-open net. The Red Foxes entered the half trailing 1-0.
Marist started the second half by applying pressure on the Canisius backline. The Red Foxes were generating more shots, but they were unable to direct them on target. Canisius responded in the 60th minute with two shots off the crossbar from sophomore midfielder Emma Oliphant and junior forward Tiani Fonoti.
The road team continued the offensive attack, as junior defender Samantha Caldarelli had a shot saved by Canisius junior goalkeeper Jessica Jones in the 66th minute. Fifth-year forward Nicole Colantuono had a quality chance on a through ball, but she was unable to beat Jones to the loose ball in the 76th minute. The best chance of the half was a shot from junior midfielder Amanda Caldarelli that hit the post and bounced out in the 79th minute. The chance felt like an unlucky bounce for the Red Foxes. Marist continued to push for a goal, but ultimately was unable to find the back of the net. Canisius held on for the 1-0 win.
Marist falls to 4-5-5 on the season and 2-4-2 in conference play. The Red Foxes remain outside of the MAAC Playoffs, as they are in seventh place. This was another winnable game that the Red Foxes failed to capitalize on. They are now in a position where they need to win their final two games to ensure that they make the playoffs.
The Red Foxes will return home for a must-win game against Rider on Saturday, October 22, at 1 P.M.
Edited by Christian De Block
Photos from Marist Athletics