Sept. 4, 2011
Final Stats
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Marist women's soccer team was victorious on Sunday afternoon in the second game of the Yale Soccer Classic over Central Connecticut State by a score of 2-1. In the Red Foxes' first win of the 2011 season, sophomore Rycke Guiney and freshman Amanda Epstein netted the team's goals.
The Red Foxes came out in the first half on a mission to score their first goal of 2011 and more importantly secure their first win. From the opening whistle, the team fought hard and controlled possession throughout the intial 45 minutes.
Scoring opportunities came fast and furious for the Red Foxes as Guiney (Naperville, Ill.) whipped a corner kick in that charging junior defender Chelsea Botta (East Longmeadow, Mass.) headed just high of the Central Connecticut net in the fifth minute of play. Less than three minutes later, the Marist forward duo of Epstein (Jericho, N.Y.) and Jackie Frey (Monroe, N.Y.) hit back to back shots, that Central's goalkeeper Nikola Deiter denied.
Marist's offensive persistence finally equaled a goal as senior midfielder Mariah Downey (Chesire, Conn.) took a shot that rang off the post and was controlled by Guiney, who put a low line-drive passed Central's diving keeper at 17:23.
The Red Foxes continued pressuring the Blue Devils' defense as multiple free kick and corner opportunities threatened over the final 27 minutes of the first half.
Coming out of halftime with a 1-0 lead, the play flowed from end to end as the Blue Devils mounted more sustained offensive opportunities. After 15 minutes of such play, the Red Foxes got back to work on the offensive end of the field as both Frey and Guiney had opportunities on net.
Marist put goal number two on the board at 61:36 as junior Nicole Kuhar (Oceanview, N.J.) crossed the ball in from the right wing to senior Kathryn Hannis (Bloomsbury, N.J.), who laid the ball off to Epstein at the mouth of the net for her first collegiate goal. This tally would eventually stand up as the game-winner.
Central Connecticut's offense had two excellent chances in the 65th minute as took two shots, the first which rattled off the crossbar and the second which found the right post. They finally broke through as Rosie McGuire converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
Marist held on over the final eight minutes to collect their first win of the season by a 2-1 score.
"I was really happy with the spirit that the team came out with right from the kickoff. Scoring early was great for us, it allowed us to settle in and play our game. We kept the pressure on them and were able to exploit Central's weaknesses. Coming off of a quick turnaround from Friday night's game, the team showed excellent fitness and a high level of play that should bode well for our future weekend sets" said head coach Kate Lyn.
On her first victory Lyn said that "the adrenaline is still rushing. It's nice to know that the team has bought into our new style. Getting this first win of the season for the team and for myself is great; I can't wait for what the rest of the season will bring for this talented squad."
In her first collegiate start, freshman Andrea Wicks (East Northport, N.Y.) was the victorious goalkeeper.
For the game, Marist outshot Central Connecticut State 15-7, with an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal.
The Red Foxes' next game will be in Providence, R.I. on Friday, Sept. 9 as they take on Providence in a 4 p.m. matchup.
