GLENSIDE, Pa. – Behind an early lead, the Ursinus College women's soccer team recorded a 3-2 road victory over Arcadia University on Wednesday evening from West Field.
With the victory the Bears improved to 3-0 on the season, meanwhile the Knights of the MAC Freedom conference fell to 1-2 overall. This marks as the Bears first three game unbeaten start since 2019 when they opened 2-0-1 and first 3-0 start since the 2010 season. Three different goal scorers paced the Bears offense during the non-conference battle as senior
Ciara Rago and sophomores
Adriana Careless and
Kalli Roskos each recorded goals for Ursinus.
The Bears quickly jumped on the board during the 2
nd minute as Rago chased down a loose ball between two defenders and dribbled towards the box on a counterattack. The senior forward sent a bouncing shot on net that deflected off the Knights goalkeeper and trickled into the net to give Ursinus an early 1-0 advantage. Arcadia quickly answered with a counterattack during the third minute, as Caroline Weirich had a one-on-one opportunity inside the box, but she was turned away by a diving save from senior goalkeeper
Maddie Nau. The continued the offensive pressure creating three separate shots over the next five minutes but were turned away by the Knights defense on each attempt.
During the 37
th minute, Ursinus increased their advantage to two when Careless fired a line drive right-footed shot above Arcadia's netminder and into the back of the net. After a Knights turnover, the ball found Careless about 35-yards away and once creating some separation her shot bounced off the goalkeeper's glove and into the net. The Knights responded with two final shots during the final three minutes of the first half but were denied by Nau and the Bears defense.
Each team traded shots to open the second half with Arcadia capitalizing on a scoring opportunity as Abby Stephens trimmed the Knights deficit to one with a goal at the 52:55-mark. Moments later during an Arcadia corner kick opportunity, a header from a Knights player nearly found the back of the net, but a diving save from Nau in goal kept the Bears ahead 2-1. In the 75
th minute, Ursinus added an insurance goal when Roskos found the nylon to give Ursinus a 3-1 lead. Roskos created some space in the midfield and started dribbling towards the box and through the Knights defense before switching to her left foot and sending her shot past the Knights netminder for a goal. It marks as the second consecutive game she has scored with each of her last two goals being game winning scores. Arcadia added a late goal at the 86:27-mark, but the Bears didn't allow another opportunity earning the 3-2 decision on the road.
The Knights held a 18-16 edge in shots while also holding a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper
Maddie Nau earned the victory in net behind nine saves, while Arcadia's Abigail Fuchs was dealt the loss after recording just three saves in 45 minutes of action.
The Bears return to action on Saturday, September 9
th as they host No. 3 Messiah University for a 5 p.m. start from Patterson Field.
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