FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Marian women's soccer team got back in the win column Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 shutout against St. Francis (Ind.). The Knights eighth shutout win gives them their 10th win of the season and extend their record to 10-2-3 and 3-2-2 in Crossroads League play.
St. Francis were the first to fire off a shot in the ninth minute, but it was freshman goalie
Lily Ames making the save to deny the early attempt made by the Cougars.
Sophie Decker gave Marian the early advantage with her fourth goal of the season coming just 9:15 into the contest.
Delaney Taylor played the ball up to the field as Decker out ran the defense and poked it past the keeper to give the Knights the 1-0 lead.
The Knights tried to extend their lead around four minutes later as
Bridget Stratman headed a ball on frame and
Grace Crawford fired one off, both finding the hands of the Cougar goalie. The offense was hard to come by for both teams in the final 24 minutes, with Crawford taking the only shot attempt the remainder of the first half. Marian's defense held St. Francis to one shot in the first 45 minutes, while the Knights offense put together four shots and four corner kicks to hold the 1-0 advantage at the break.
Marian kept the offense coming to start the second half, with
Gretchen Mallin starting a shooting frenzy as she booted one on frame before Decker and
Katie Koger took shots. The Knights extended their lead in the 60th minute after Mallin sent a ball up the field that Koger knocked to Crawford who then finished the ball in back netting. With the 2-0 lead, Marian pounded onto the St. Francis defense as they fired off five more shots before scoring their third goal of the afternoon after Crawford found
Chloe Flinn for her first career goal. The Cougars tried to respond after the goal with three more shots in the final minutes of the game, but were unable to execute as the Knights would leave Fort Wayne with the 3-0 victory.
Marian outshot St. Francis 17-6 (11-3 shots on target). The Knights had eight corner kicks, while the Cougars had five. Crawford scored one goal on four attempts, with Decker and Flinn having the other two goals. Taylor, Crawford, Koger, and Mallin each dished out an assist in the win. Ames made three saves in her first career win at goal.
Marian will return to the pitch on October 25 when they travel to Mt. Vernon Nazarene for a 7 p.m. start.
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