Aug. 20, 2017 Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Junior Katie Brannigan blasted a free-kick goal early in the second half, but the Lafayette women's soccer team ultimately fell in its season opener on Sunday afternoon, a 3-1 defeat at Siena in Loudonville, N.Y.
The Saints were able to get on the board early as, working down the center of the field, Darby D'Angelo found Michele Tremblay on her left at the top of the box. Tremblay was able to beat Lafayette freshman goalkeeper Maggie Pohl inside the far right post to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
The game went into the halftime intermission at 1-0, but it took just 1:29 into the second stanza to push that edge to two. Siena was able to induce a Leopard foul in the box and Madison Vasquez converted on the penalty kick to make it a 2-0 deficit.
Less than two minutes later, though, Lafayette got on the board. Earning a free kick from about 25 yards out in the middle of the field, Brannigan's strike found space high into the top right corner for the team's first goal of the 2017 campaign, cutting the lead to just one at 2-1.
However, the Leopards could never find the equalizer and Siena's Lindsay Mulligan deflected a corner past senior goalkeeper Kelly O'Brien, who took over second-half duties in net for Lafayette, in the 75th minute to solidify the result at 3-1.
O'Brien made four saves and allowed two goals in her 45 minutes of action, while Pohl did not make a save, allowing one goal, in her collegiate debut. Siena's Taylor Dorado picked up the win with five saves on the afternoon.
Shots favored Siena, 13-10, and corners were tied at five apiece. Junior Lauren Johnson posted three shots, with one on goal, offensively for the Maroon and White, while classmate Alex Stanford continues to make the most of her opportunities, putting both of her shots on target. Dating back to last season, Stanford has had five straight shots hit the target, including three goals in her 2016 campaign.
Lafayette returns to action on Wednesday, hosting NJIT at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
