Davenport, Iowa - The Marian women's soccer team kicked off their 2023 season with a clean sheet on Saturday afternoon, taking down St. Ambrose by a 1-0 count in the opening match of the year. Marian's lone goal of the game came in the 64th minute by Kaitlyn Lavezzi, while Kristen Morgan was spotless in goal to provide the shutout in her first collegiate start. 

The Knights were aggressive early in the match, winning two corner kicks in the first four minutes of play, resulting in two shot attempts. St. Ambrose would counter in the next four minutes and attacked with three shots, one of which was on frame but denied by the keeper Kristen Morgan. 

Marian returned on the offensive in the 19th and 22nd minutes, getting a shot from Delaney Taylor that was blocked, while Marian Corro Celma's first shot of the season was just high and rattled the crossbar. Morgan and the defensive line continued to play solid as the half drew to a close, with the keeper making a save while the backs forced a wide shot in the 40th minute.

The game would enter halftime deadlocked at 0-0 after Taylor's late shot missed high, and in the second half the defense was challenged early with two shot attempts from the Fighting Bees. Marian would regain control of possession in the 60th minute, as Taylor's third shot of the game would be blocked. After another defensive stand where Morgan made a pair of saves separated by 30 seconds, Marian found a rhythm and attacked the Bees' backline. In the 64th minute, the ball found its way to Kaitlyn Lavezzi, who ripped a left-footed blast from the top of the left corner, and banged home the team's first goal of the season, as the freshman's first collegiate score provided a 1-0 lead.

Marian's defense would hold solid for the remainder of the match as Morgan would make one final save, as the defense allowed just two shots and one corner kick over the final 25 minutes of play. Lavezzi's goal came on her first shot attempt of the season, and Taylor led the Knights in shots with three. Katie Koger ripped a pair of shots, while Corro Celma and Naomi Walters each finished with one attempt. The Knights finished the game trailing in total shots 12-8, but played clean making less fouls than the Bees.

Morgan's solid work in net provided the shutout as Marian earned the 1-0 win, with the keeper earning her first collegiate win while making a career-high six saves in goal. Lavezzi's first collegiate shot stood as the game-winning goal, as she was one of three Knights to take one attempt in the match.Taylor would go on to lead the Knights in shot attempts with three, while Katie Koger took two.

With the win, the Knights begin the season 1-0, and will look to keep their record in tact when they return to the pitch on Saturday, August 26 at IU-Kokomo. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. against the Cougars.

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