COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Sophomore
Adriana Careless collected her first career multi-goal performance leading the Ursinus College women's soccer team to a 2-0 decision over Delaware Valley on Friday afternoon.
With the victory, the Bears move to 1-0 on the season and it marks the fourth consecutive season in which Ursinus has won their season opener dating back to 2019.
Senior goalkeeper
Maddie Nau earned her first career shutout in goal collecting four saves, meanwhile senior
Ciara Rago and first-year midfielder
Gwyn Krystkiewicz each were credited with an assist. Careless paced the offense with a total of six shots, while Rago, and senior
Liv Morrow each fired five shots in the contest.
After the opening whistle, both teams did not waste much time as each squad was credited with a scoring opportunity within the first three minutes. Delaware Valley's Sydney Dispoto fired the first shot, a line drive kick from thirty yards away leading to a diving save from Nau in net.
After multiple chances, the Bears cashed in during the 15
th minute as a mistouch from an Aggies defender led to a three on two scoring opportunity. Rago sent a through ball down the right end to Careless who connected on a screaming shot from 19 yards out to give Ursinus an early 1-0 advantage.
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Ursinus gained the momentum after the opening goal as through the next 15 minutes, the offense kept up the pressure collecting a total of five shots with Delaware Valley's Viola Anderson earning three saves. Ursinus nearly added an insurance goal before halftime on a corner kick opportunity, but the shot was saved to keep the lead at one heading into the break.
After the halftime adjustments, the Bears quickly responded by scoring their second goal of the contest during the 47
th minute. A throw-in from Krystkiewicz found Careless inside the box one-on-one with an Aggies defender, and after a move inside she fired a shot to the top left corner of the net to give Ursinus a 2-0 lead. The Bears continued the pressure recording five more shots over the next seven minutes, before Delaware Valley responded with two shots in the 57
th minute. Each of the Aggie's opportunities were stuffed from Nau in goal as she collected two of her four save attempts. The Bears offense continued to shine in the second half as they created a handful of chances, but a total of 12 saves made in the second half from Delaware Valley's netminder Viola Anderson kept the score at 2-0.
Ursinus finished with a 30-11 advantage in shots and closed out with a 19-4 lead in shots on goal. The Bear's offense was credited with 10 corner kick opportunities compared to just six chances for Delaware Valley.
Ursinus will return to action on Sunday as they host Stevenson University for a non-conference matchup starting at 1pm.
