INDIANAPOLIS – All it took was one goal for the Marian women's soccer team to record their 18th win of the season, as Erin Oleksak notched the game-winning goal in the 54th minute to give the Knights the 1-0 victory over the Bellevue Bruins in the NAIA Opening Round. The win advances them into the Opening Round Final on Saturday.
Marian controlled possession in the opening 45 minutes, having seven shot attempts to Bellevue's zero. Even with the Knights seeing great offensive attacks through the first half, goals were tough to come across. Maya Decker got the first shot of the game coming in the second minute but found the hands of the Bellevue keeper, before Erin Oleksak sent a shot high four minutes later. The Knights continued to hold possession on the Bruin end of the field with Jacelyn Smith finding a shot attempt, but the Bruin defense would block the shot.
Not only did Marian see seven shot attempts, but they also produced seven corners in the first half that gave good looks, as Camryn Gietl had a header off a corner in the 25th minute that would hit the post. The Knights saw another great look at the 30:28 mark when Naomi Walters nearly came away with a goal as she made her way past the Bellevue defense, but the ball landed in the arms of the goalie. With under ten minutes to play, Marian put together two more corner kicks, but were unable to execute as the first half would come to a close deadlocked at 0-0.
The Bruins finally found their first shot attempt 33 seconds into the second half, but it was the Knights who attacked four times in the first six minutes of the second half with Marian Corro Celma, Walters and Smith all taking shot attempts. The aggressive offense by Marian finally paid off in the 54th minute when Walters found Oleksak in the box as blasted one in back netting to give her team the 1-0 lead.
Marian continued to put pressure on the Bellevue defense after the goal with Madison Deckard heading one high. Bellevue responded with another shot attempt, but Noelle Rolfsen would come up with the save, while Walters penetrated the defense down the middle with her shot going slightly wide. In the 67th minute, Oleksak found herself with the ball in front of the goal, but the Bellevue keeper would make the close save to keep the score 1-0.
The rest of the match was all the Knights, as the Bruins did not make any more shot attempts and Marian put together three corner kicks and six shot attempts coming from Walters, Oleksak, and Smith. Marian looked to add to their 1-0 lead several times in the final minutes, controlling possession as they drained the clock to close the victory.
Marian held an 21-2 lead on shots for the match, with Oleksak taking six shots, scoring the game's only goal. Smith took five shot attempts with one on goal, while adding an assist. Walters had four attempts with two shots on goal and an assist. Rolfsen recored the shutout making two saves in the win.
Marian's win advances them to Saturday night's final match, where Marian will meet Campbellsville University at 7 PM at St. Vincent Field.
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