RIVERDALE, N.Y. – An 86th-minute goal by junior
Kaleigh Evans gave the Ursinus women's soccer team a 1-0 victory over the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Saturday afternoon on the road.
With the victory, Ursinus collects their first victory of the season and improves to 1-1, while the Dolphins fall to 0-1 to open their season. The shutout marks the Bears' first since defeating Franklin & Marshall, 1-0, on October 29th last season and their second straight victory over Mount Saint Vincent following a 2-1 victory last October.
Both teams traded scoring opportunities through the first 20 minutes as the Bears were unable to record a shot on a corner attempt, while a Mount Saint Vincent shot missed wide during the second minute. Senior
Gwyn Krystkiewicz tallied the Bears' first shot of the contest at the 20:09 mark, but her scoring chance missed wide left after a one-timer opportunity outside the box. The Dolphins responded with a pair of shots on goal during the 22nd minute, but junior netminder
Mallory Toomey saved both chances to keep the game tied. Ursinus nearly scored the first goal with under 30 seconds remaining in the first half, as senior
Sophia Cooper found space past the backline, but a diving save by Mount Saint Vincent's goalkeeper kept the contest tied at zero entering halftime.
Mount Saint Vincent fired the first three shots on goal in the second half, resulting in saves by Toomey and the Bears' defense. Next, first-year
Alexis Whaley and senior
Maddie Jolie each recorded shots for the Bears, but the contest entered the final 10 minutes still tied at zero. The Bears' go-ahead goal came with under four minutes to play as the Dolphins played a pass to their defensive back line. A missed touch by a Mount Saint Vincent defender was intercepted by Evans, who fired a right-footed shot from outside the box to give Ursinus a 1-0 victory.
Mount Saint Vincent held a 9-5 lead in total shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, while Ursinus earned a 2-0 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Toomey recorded six saves in the victory, earning her eighth career shutout. Mount Saint Vincent's Kaitlyn Grady suffered the loss for the Dolphins, finishing with two saves.
The Bears will return to action on Tuesday, September 8th, as they host Gwynedd Mercy University at 7:30 p.m. at Patterson Field.
