NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - After the host Purple Eagles went up 1-0 in the sixth minute, the Marist women's soccer team would step on the gas offensively and never look back as the Red Foxes would score three unanswered goals and outshoot Niagara 21-7 in the final 84 minutes on their way to a 3-1 win. Samantha Panzner (Livingston, N.J.) and Marjana Maksuti (Delmar, N.Y.) led the charge as Panzner netted goal number one, while Maksuti scored the second and third goals. Andrea Wicks (East Northport, N.Y.) made saves as the victorious Red Fox goalkeeper.
Following Friday night's 20-shot output versus Canisius, the Red Foxes jumped up on Niagara's defense early as they recorded two shots within the first 2:42. In their lone shot in the first 28 minutes, the Purple Eagles would take the early 1-0 lead at 5:13 on a Catherine Meyer tally.
Faced with the early deficit, Marist was unfazed and quickly got back to pressuring Niagara's defensive third. Within the next 14 minutes, the Red Foxes unleashed four shots towards goal, three of which required defensive stops, one by Niagara goalkeeper Claire Feiertag and two blocked shots.
Finally at 18:09, Panzner helped the Red Foxes break through on the scoreboard with her second goal of the season off of a 23-yard blast that hit the post and deflected in.
Panzner would play a pivotal role in the Red Foxes going up 2-1 as on their next scoring drive she fed Maksuti for a header goal at 22:35. After receiving a pass from Amanda Epstein (Jericho, N.Y.), the junior midfielder hit a cross in from the left wing to a waiting Maksuti, who outleapt the nearby Niagara defender.
Down the stretch in the first half over the final 22 minutes, the Purple Eagles registered all three shots, including two on goal versus Wicks.
At the half, Marist had an 8-4 advantage in shots in; both teams had three shots on goal.
In the second period, the Red Foxes made sure that the final result was never in doubt as they came out firing. Five shots were taken over the opening 12:28 of the half. The fifth shot would go down as Marist's third goal of the game as Maksuti would once again take a cross in from the wing and power a header past the outstretched arms of the Niagara goalkeeper. Much like Maksuti's first goal, Epstein was a facilitator as she served the ball in from the wing at 57:28.
Though the holders of a two-goal lead, Marist continued pressuring Niagara over the final 32:32 of game action in search of even more goals. Over that span, the Red Foxes would register 10 shots versus just three for the Purple Eagles.
After 90 minutes of strong offensive soccer the Red Foxes would conclude its opening MAAC weekend with a 3-1 victory and a sweep of Western New York schools, Canisius and Niagara.
For the game, Marist outshot Niagara 23-8, with a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal and a 4-2 margin in corner kicks. Wicks finished with four saves as she moves to 6-4 on the year.
As a team, Marist improves to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in the MAAC.
The Red Foxes will continue their conference play with a home match next Saturday night versus Siena. Tenney Stadium will host the contest between the Hudson Valley rivals at 7 p.m.
