The Marist Red Foxes recorded their fifth draw of the season Saturday night of alumni weekend, this time tying with Mount St. Mary’s
Sophomore forward Gabby Tirado remained persistent in the box for the Red Foxes, crossing balls into the middle and trying to get the Marist on the board.
“Gabby is relentless; she is our leading goal scorer for a reason, she is a great presence for us,” said head coach Nicole Pacapelli Ciano. “She is dangerous and has the ability to change games.”
Tirado finished the game playing all 90 minutes and recording five shots on goal.
The Red Foxes maintained ball control in the first half of play, despite The Mounts’ double-team approach on defense. Outshooting Mount St. Mary’s 12-to-2 in the first, Marist struggled to find the back of the net and did not take advantage of set pieces, with five corners and four free kicks in the first half.
“It all just comes back to reps at practice and putting that final ball in the back of the net,” said Pacapelli Ciano. “We have scored plenty, and we have also been scored on plenty. I think we are doing a much better job on the defensive side of things and not getting scored on.”
Sophomore goalie Samantha Graf got her first start and shutout of the season with senior goalie Maddy Catalanotti sidelined with an injury.
“It is a tall task for her [Graf] to come in, obviously, Maddy took a knock last game and she is a big presence and leader. So, for Sam to come in and step up says a lot about who she is, and the team has her back. She was great for us,” said Pacapelli Ciano.
Graf ended the game with seven saves, shutting out the Mountaineers, who had notched a goal in every game since Sept. 24
Sophomore forward Ariana Mullin created a statement for herself off the bench, sending in crosses and outrunning The Mount defenders. Mullin recorded two shots in her first six minutes of play.
“Ari is a super technical player, sometimes she brings a super calming presence to slow the game down while also connecting good passes and making things happen,” said Pacapelli Ciano.
In the 78th minute, senior midfielder Jillian Garcia found Tirado in the box, where the ball ricocheted off the leg of Tirado, grazing a Mountaineers defender’s hand, setting up a penalty shot for sophomore midfielder Sophia Dorsey. Dorsey set up for the kick, looking towards the bottom left corner, where she pushed the ball wide left.
Marist found themselves with another scoring opportunity minutes later on the team’s eighth corner of the matchup. Tirado curled the ball in, finding the head of senior defender Julia Loncar, who deflected the ball just above the top of the post.
Despite Marist maintaining its position for the majority of the game, recording 23 shots against the Mountaineers’ defense, the ball never found the back of the net.
With less than a minute remaining, sophomore midfielder Sophia DeJoia sent a high ball into the box, drawing sophomore goalie Anna Joyce off her line. With an open goal and the ball bouncing in the box, the Red Foxes reacted a second too late, with the final whistle sounding, marking Marist’s fifth draw of the season
“Even though we didn’t get a win, our process was good; it was better than some results that we did win,” said Pacapelli Ciano. “We played a good style of soccer, we did the right things, we moved the ball well, we took shots. So moving forward, the process doesn’t change. We put our heads down and we come out with the same intensity and energy.”
The Red Foxes look to officially clinch their first playoff berth since 2023 on Oct. 29 away in Lawrenceville, against Rider.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic by Isabel Cortese
Photo via Jaylen Rizzo
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