PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The No. 2 Marian women's soccer team battled through wild weather with No. 9 Embry-Riddle on Saturday night to kick off their Arizona trip. The game was nothing short of a top-10 battle as it was a fight on both sides from start to finish. The Knights ended in a 2-2 draw with the Eagles, bringing their record to 3-0-1.
The first half of action proved to be fairly even fight as both teams were challenging each other on both sides of the pitch. Embry-Riddle was the first to strike with a shot over the goal, before Grace Crawford took the first shot on target, forcing the goalie to make the early save. The hosts fired off the next three shots, but it was Crawford again and Delaney Taylor putting shots on frame that would end in the hands of the keeper.
With the score still locked at 0-0, both teams were trying to find the first goal in hopes of taking the 1-0 lead. Marian and Embry-Riddle continued to go back and forth, with both teams getting shots off in the final seven minutes. Katie Koger had two close attempts at the end of the first half, making the goalie work on the first and hitting the crossbar on the second. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes, as the score was tied 0-0 at the break.
Marian came out firing first to begin the second half, with Koger and Crawford taking the first four shots. The Eagles saw their chance next, but were unable to execute on the attempt. After 59 minutes of play, the Knights found themselves on the scoreboard first, with Silvia Quezada striking one in the back of the net. Embry-Riddle had a quick answer, as they matched the Knights' goal at the 66th minute.
After tying the score at 1-1, the Eagles had their chance to take the lead after being awarded the penalty kick in the 80th minute. However, Kristen Morgan came up huge for the Knights, making the diving save and keeping the score deadlocked at 1-1.
Embry-Riddle out shot Marian in the next 13 minutes minutes of play, but it was Koger finding Naomi Walters in the box, who then headed it home to give Marian the 2-1 lead at the 81:57 mark. The Eagles spoiled the Marian lead minutes later with a solid strike of the ball to even the score 2-2 with less than five minutes to go. With time winding down, Koger took one last shot in hopes for the game-winning goal, but the Eagles' goalie managed to come up with save and end the game at a 2-2 draw.
Quezada and Walters each scored for Marian, taking one and two shots, respectively. Koger had five shots and an assist, while Crawford dished out one assists and added four shots. Morgan played the full 90 minutes in goal, registering six saves and allowing two goals.
Marian will be back in action on Monday when they go up against (RV) Ottawa (Ariz.) at 11 a.m. to wrap up their Arizona trip.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.
