INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's soccer team dropped their first game at home since the 2021 season on Saturday afternoon, with Indiana Wesleyan prevailing 1-0 in a battle of two top-15 teams in the NAIA. Marian's loss drops them to an overall 7-1-1, while they start Crossroads League play 0-1. 

With a packed crowd, Indiana Wesleyan was the first on the attack as they fired off a shot in the first 29 seconds of play. Minutes later the Wildcats continued to produce as they rallied for two corner kicks, leading to a header attempt that Mycheala Johnson would deny. Lindsey Stoughton took the first attempt for Marian in the seventh minute, but missed just wide. In the 11th minute, it was the Wildcats again with a pair of corners and a shot fired to the hands of Johnson. In a search for the first goal of the game, Katie Koger and Kaitlyn Lavezzi fired off shots in the 19th and 20th minute, before IWU responded with a shot of their own. However, it was neither team executing and still leaving the score tied at 0-0.

The Wildcats continued to control possession in the first half, as the put together two more corners and two more shot attempts. Although the the visitors were controlling possession in the first 45 minutes of action, the Knights put together some late attempts with Delaney Taylor, Koger, and Marian Corro Celma all booting shots on frame. Johnson came up big for Marian with her three saves to keep her team in the game.

Once again it was IWU taking possession to start the second half, as they fired off a shot in the 51st minute that ended up blocked. Marian answered with a shot of their own, with Silvia Quezada blasting one towards the goal, but ended in a hit off the post. The efforts from the Wildcats paid off in the 57th minute after Sydney Couch played a ball ahead of Macy Browning who then put it past Johnson to give the visitors the 1-0 lead. The score was challenged three minutes later, as the Knights fired off a pair of attempts that were blocked by the Indiana Wesleyan defense. 

Neither team took another shot until the 72nd minute when Corro Celma, Taylor, and Quezada all made attempts. Indiana Wesleyan tried to build onto their lead with three more shots over the next four minutes, but it was Johnson once again making the save for her team. In a last ditch effort Quezada broke away from the IWU defense and booted one on frame, but was unable to find back netting with the keeper coming up with the ball. Unable to get a tying goal, the Knights dropped the contest 1-0, suffering their first loss of the season.

Marian ended the match with 15 shots, while Indiana Wesleyan had 13. Corro Celman, Taylor, Quezada, and Koger led the team with three shots, while Lavezzi, Stoughton, and Bridget Stratman each had one. Johnson made five saves and allowed one goal in a full 90 minutes of action. 

Marian will be back in action September 27 as they travel to Goshen. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. 
 

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