Despite recent success, Marist women’s soccer stalled on offense as they received their first loss in the MAAC conference, falling 2-0 to the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers.
The match had limited opportunities for both sides with the Red Foxes leading the shot category eight to six, along with shots on goal six to three. Marist had a majority of their shots come in the second half, coincidingly as the Mountaineers parked the bus on defense after a first half goal from senior forward and Arkansas State transfer Sydoney Clarke.
The first real offensive opportunity came ten minutes in for the Mountaineers when sophomore midfielder Erin Antone delivered a shot from outside the box, but junior goalkeeper Maddy Catalanotti leaped up to push it over the crossbar for her first save of the game.
Marist did not get their first shot until the 22nd minute from graduate student forward Sofia Cassano, one which was an easy save for freshman goalkeeper Adelaide Paredes.
Antone capitalized on a Red Fox mistake in the 26th minute, intercepting a pass from graduate student midfielder/forward Maille McDermott deep in Marist territory. The midfielder delivered a short through ball to senior forward Sydoney Clarke who put it away to give Mount St. Mary’s a 1-0 lead.
In contrast to their last two matches, Marist had a tough time generating anything on offense in the first half, with their best opportunity coming in the 40th minute on a free kick from freshman defender/midfielder Sophia Dorsey, saved rather easily by Paredes.
Mount St. Mary’s looked to extend their lead as sophomore midfielder Lillian Young found a great opportunity late in the first half, but she sailed it high over the net. The first half ended with just five shots combined from both sides, with the only real threats coming from the Mountaineers.
The Red Foxes looked to change the first-half narrative with junior midfielder Olivia Lindsay delivering a shot on net early in the second half, but Parades quickly subdued the threat on goal.
Marist continued a push on offense with junior forward Miya Reid getting a shot on net in the 62nd minute, forcing Paredes to make her most difficult save of the day.
With their small amount of chances to equalize for the Red Foxes thwarted, the Red Foxes received another corner in the 68th minute, one that ended quickly with the ball trickling out of bounds.
Paredes once again made a heads up save at the 71st minute, as a through ball from freshman defender/midfielder Sophia Dejoia found the foot of Mount St. Mary’s graduate student defender Kayla Pennington. Pennington almost deflected one into her own net, but Paredes quickly reacted and jumped up to make the play.
Though the Mountaineers appeared to turn their attention to defense, Graduate student midfielder Nathalie Mejia took a corner in the 73rd minute. She sent a high-arching ball that remained on the net the whole way, somehow finding the back of the bin to extend the lead 2-0 for Mount St. Mary’s. Mejia notched her first career goal with the Mountaineers on her own corner kick attempt.
Freshman forward Maragaret Johnson looked to respond quickly for Marist, as she delivered a powerful shot on net but Paredes made a diving save to force it away. Mount St. Mary’s controlled the rest of the way, earning their first MAAC conference victory.
Now 2-1 in conference play, the Red Foxes will go back to the drawing board before a home match against the Manhattan Jaspers next Saturday at 7 p.m.
Edited By Dan Aulbach
Graphic Credit: Lucas Baquero
Photo Credit: Ricky Torres
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