Sept. 19, 2008
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - In the midst of a four-game homestand on Friday night, the Lafayette women's soccer team fell to Marist 2-0 in non-conference action. The Red Foxes scored a goal in each half to salvage the victory at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.
Marist controlled the opening 20 minutes, establishing itself in the Lafayette defense for the majority of the first half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Futterknecht came up with some key saves to keep the game scoreless, highlighted by an 11th minute save where she left her line and took down the angle on a Marist header.
The Red Foxes capitalized off a Leopard turnover in the 36th minute to take the 1-0 lead. The Leopards countered the goal with pressure of their own as sophomore Katie Roberts found classmate Taylor Rand down the right side of the field. Rand sent a right-footed cross into the Marist six-yard box heading straight for the foot of Kassidy Keller, but was barely deflected away by a Red Fox defender to negate the Lafayette scoring opportunity.
An evenly-played final eight minutes of the first half ended with the Red Foxes taking the one goal advantage into intermission.
It was Lafayette who opened the second half chances and planted itself in the Marist defensive half for the first 20 minutes out of halftime.
Just two minutes in, Roberts found senior Lauren Hinkel just outside the 18-yard box. Hinkel's initial shot was deflected but came to the feet of freshman Dana Moyer. Moyer took two touches to beat the Marist defender before sending a strong shot just wide of the netting.
Ten minutes later, the Leopards continued to cement themselves inside the Marist zone, as they switched the field from left to right to find sophomore Mackenzie Moore. Moore put two moves on the Red Fox defender to create space and beat the goalkeeper with the shot, but sailed just wide left of the goal.
Head coach Mick Statham sees his squad competing and progressing each game, but must have a more killer instinct within the 18-yard box.
"I thought there were a lot of momentum shifts in the game tonight," Statham said after the game.
"The first half, to be fair to Marist, belonged to them. We never quite got a hold of Fox and she did some nice stuff for them and caused us some damage. I thought in the first 25 minutes of the second half we played very well and created a lot of chances. But at this level, if you don't convert the chances you get, it will kick you in the backside. We need to show a much higher quality in the 18-yard box if we're going to give ourselves a chance because the spirit is good and we're working hard enough. We just need to put the ball in the back of the net for us and it's going to change games for us."
The Leopards will have a short turnaround time as they will take Saturday to prepare for a Sunday matinee against St. Peter's. Gametime is set for 4 p.m. at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.
