** This piece has been updated to match the MAAC tournament bracket – Marist will begin playoffs as the six seed playing away against Canisius **
Two hours before kickoff in its 1-0 loss against Rider, the Marist Red Foxes officially clinched a spot in the MAAC Tournament for the first time since head coach Nicole Pacapelli Ciano took over the program.
With a home playoff game on the line and the chance to be the third seed with a win or draw, Rider stunned Marist with its first win of conference play in the Broncs’ season finale. The loss sends the Red Foxes on the road to Buffalo for their first-round game against Canisius University.
Marist created early chances against the Rider defense, controlling the ball for the majority of the first half, testing freshman goalie Ashley Moore. Despite the Broncs’ losing season, Moore holds the third-best save percentage in the MAAC (.738). In her first season, the goalie has quickly become the backbone of the Rider defense.
Moore ended the matchup with six saves on 17 shots, allowing zero goals. On the other end, sophomore goalie Samantha Graff faced four shots, recording one save.
The Red Foxes’ game against Rider marks the second game without senior goalie Maddy Catalanotti, who has been a key component in Marist’s success this season. With Catalanotti in net, the Red Foxes only have one loss in conference play.
Coming out of halftime, Rider gained quick possession, pushing the Marist defense back on its heels. The first and only score of the game came in the 48th minute.
Sophomore forward Tess Ferrie sneaked a ball past Graff off the far post for the Broncs’ first goal at home since Sep. 14 and for the team’s first and only conference win of the season.
Ferrie and her sister, junior forward Ava Ferrie, have led Rider this season, with the sisters leading the team in points with three goals and two assists each.
Senior captain Julia Loncar continued to play a key role in the Marist defense, as she has each game this year, helping Marist keep possession and pushing the Red Foxes’ offense up the field.
Ending the regular season with a loss, Marist turns its attention to the playoffs with an away game against Canisius. The Red Foxes defeated the Golden Griffins two games ago, with Marist taking a 2-0 win on the team’s senior day.
The matchup against Canisius was the last time Catalanotti was seen in the net after being taken out of the game in the 83rd minute. The goalie left the match with eight saves, being replaced by Graf, who preserved the shutout for the red Foxes.
Senior midfielder Olivia Lindsay and sophomore forward Gabby Tirado were the two to find the back of the net for Marist. Tirado continues to have a standout season, leading the team with seven goals, four assists and over 50 shots. Lindsay follows Tirado in the stat leaders with five goals and one assist.
The Red Foxes travel to Canisius for their first match of the postseason on Sunday to fight for their first semi-finals appearance since 2018.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic by Celia Green
Photo via Cassidy Connors
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