Despite a resurgence on the offensive side of the ball, Marist let in two first half goals that they couldn’t battle back from, losing 2-1 against Navy.
The Red Foxes started the game with some good offensive push and had control for the first five minutes. They found their first corner of the game where defender/midfielder, Sophia Dorsey, missed a shot wide left.
Navy didn’t find their first opportunity until about 10 minutes into the game, when a shot from senior midfielder Rylee Rives missed high over the crossbar.
At around the 14 minute mark, Navy junior defender Emma Romano sent a ball across the middle of the box. Still, with nobody home, Marist provided a counter-attack which led to a corner. That corner provided the best opportunity of the game so far for the Red Foxes, having several shots blocked by defenders and then eventually a slow dribbler that freshman goalkeeper Natasha Stramrood collected.
Marist was showing some encouraging signs on offense by totaling six shots in the first 15 minutes of the game, a category in which they have struggled to put high numbers in so far this season.
While Marist looked to be in control to start, it all changed as a throw-in from Navy led to a shot from sophomore forward Chiara Cosenza, who found the back of the net, giving the Midshipmen a 1-0 advantage. Junior forward Mimi Abushman was credited with the assistance in the play.
Action stalled for both sides after the change in the scoreboard, with Marist getting one opportunity at the 22 minute mark on a corner that led to a deep shot from freshman defender/midfielder Sophia Dejoia who missed a bit high over the crossbar.
Marist found another chance in the 29th minute on a great through ball from graduate student forward Sofia Cassano, leading to a shot just outside the box from freshman midfielder/forward Gabby Tirado that sailed high over the net. Marist had 10 total shots at this point in the game.
Marist made its first substitutions right around the 30 minute mark, one of those being junior forward Anna Maggi. Maggi found one of the better opportunities of the game on a ball sent into the box but wasn’t able to get a full touch on it, and Stramrood eventually collected it.
Navy found another chance with two minutes to go in the first half as senior forward/midfielder Amanda Graziano sent in a beautiful shot, giving Navy a 2-0 lead.
Navy went into the half with a 2-0 lead, in a half where Marist was on Navy’s side of the field more so than Navy was on theirs. The Red Foxes led the total shot category 13-7 at this point, but only one of those shots was on goal. On the contrary, Navy capitalized on their opportunities in the half, having both of their shots on net end in changes on the scoreboard.
The first notable moment of the second half started before the whistle, as Marist made the switch to bring in junior goalkeeper Maddy Catalanotti for freshman goalkeeper Samantha Graf, who had started the first half.
“It was a planned decision,” Marist head coach Nicole Pacapelli said. “Maddy obviously was out with an injury last game…she said she would be good for a half a game today, still a little bit monitored, but it looks like she’s moving in the right direction.”
The Red Foxes opened up the second half with the ball on Navy’s side of the turf for the first five minutes, but no true moments came of it until they got their fifth corner kick of the game. A high arching ball sent in by graduate student defender Keegan Mayer was put away into the back of the net by graduate student midfielder Maille McDermott to cut into the Navy lead, making it 2-1.
Marist continued to apply pressure after the goal but didn’t find anything else to come of it.
There was a lot of back and forth between the two sides, with nothing generating until the 75th minute, where Marist had yet another corner. It was a good ball from Mayer, but to no avail, as it trickled away to the sidelines.
Navy focused on defense and controlling possession to rinse out the rest of the clock, which they executed as the Red Foxes didn’t find many chances toward the end of the game. Navy held on the rest of the way to win 2-1.
Marist finished the game with 15 total shots to Navy’s nine, along with a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. While it wasn’t enough today, Pacapelli mentioned the importance of increasing those numbers.
“We’ve obviously been working on trying to score goals. 13 shots in one half for us is probably a season high, and we’re just trying to build on that now with more of an intentionality of getting them accurate and on goal, but to have those opportunities, we’re moving in the right direction.”
The Red Foxes have a bit before their next matchup against St. Peter’s to capitalize on those opportunities.
“We have some time to take advantage of to glue together some of the pieces that we’re missing a little bit which is making sure we’re more structured on set pieces on our own end [defensively] and putting the ball in the back of the net offensively.”
That game will be the first MAAC play for both squads, taking place on Marist’s home turf on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Edited by Jaylen Rizzo
Photo by Ricky Torres
Graphic by Victoria Guardino
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