INDIANAPOLIS - Looking to wash the taste of Wednesday's defeat from their mouths, the Marian women's soccer team dominated (RV) Grace College on Saturday afternoon, protecting their home field in a 2-0 victory against the Lancers. Marian moves to 2-1-1 in the Crossroads League, and ends the match with a 9-2-2 overall record on the campaign.

Marian dominated possession from the opening whistle of the afternoon, firing on goal in the first minute of the match. The Knights recorded six shot attempts in the first seven minutes of play, and continued to get looks on target from Katie Koger and Gretchen Mallin. The offense of Marian held the ball on the attacking edn of the pitch, with Grace making their first notable run of the match in the 30th minute when Cassidy Felger took a shot on goal, only to be denied by Mychaela Johnson.

Johnson would make two more saves over the next three minutes of play, and saw her defensive work turn into offensive success, as the Knights took the lead in the 35th minute. Layla Brown connected with Katie Koger at the top of the box, guiding Koger to her sixth goal of the season to give Marian a 1-0 advantage. Grace gathered a small stretch of momentum after the goal as they attempted to strike on Marian's net, but were able to muster a corner kick, ending the first period in the 1-0 contest.

After halftime, Marian wasted no time in reviving their attack, getting a shot on goal from Lizzie Chlystun in the period's fifth minute. Marian continued to hold possession after the shot, and connected their second goal of the match in the 52nd minute, as Naomi Walters collected a pass from Layla Brown, and buried team-leading ninth goal to extend the lead to two.

With a 2-0 lead at hand, Marian would continue to attack the net, but were unable to extend their lead, as attempts from Chlystun, Cecelia Kostick, and Koger either hit the frame or were denied by the keeper. Grace made one final push in the 68th and 73rd minutes, drawing a pair of runs at a comeback, but were unable to get clean looks at the goal, failing to dent their zero on the scoreboard, as Marian maintained their 2-0 lead as the final score.

Marian out-shot Grace 19-8 in the contest, getting five shot attempts from Brown and four from Koger. Each of Koger's attempts were on-goal as she scored the game-winner, while Walters took three shots, scoring the second goal of the match. Brown assisted on both goals in 74 minutes of work. In goal, Johnson earned the victory, pitching a shutout as she made three saves.

The Saturday victory was Marian's eighth at home, as the Knights moved to 8-0 at Ascension St. Vincent Field. The match was also Marian's eighth shutout of the season. 

The Knights will have a tall task their next time out, traveling to No. 8 Spring Arbor next Saturday night. The match in Michigan is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.

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