Williamsburg, KY – The fifth-ranked women's soccer team opened their home schedule with a second half goal and a strong defensive effort as they defeated #11 Indiana Wesleyan 1-0 Saturday afternoon at the UC Soccer Complex. With the win, the Patriots improve to 4-0-2 on the year, while the Wildcats move to 4-1-0.
Madison Long netted the game-winning goal in the 54', which also marked her first goal of her career.
Samantha Sokolove set up the goal off a corner kick for the assists. The quartet of Sokolove, Long,
Noah Paalman and
Karla Waibel limited the Wildcats to just five shots in the match, while
Morgan White made a pair of saves.
It was an evenly contested match from the opening whistle.
Nicole Araujo and
Carola Fontan each tallied a shot in the first seven minutes, while the Wildcats Avery Williams by a shot on frame, which was saved by White. Cumberlands looked to gain the early advantage as Fontan tallied a pair of shots, however, both were saved keeping the match scoreless. The two teams continued to trade possession with each recording a shot and a save, keeping the match scoreless at the break.
UC took control of the possession in the second half with a pair of shots that sailed wide. In the 53' Cumberlands worked to earn the first corner kick of the game. Sokolove set up and sent a high ball towards the back post, where the ball bounced around before Long pushed it across for the goal, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
Letizia Traversone and Fontan followed with shots over the next five minutes but couldn't convert keeping the score 1-0. The two teams traded possession in the middle third of the field for the next 10 minutes. Indiana Wesleyan picked up their pressure forcing the Patriots into a defensive stand, but Cumberlands was up to the task limited the Wildcats to just one shot over the final 10 minutes, which sailed wide for the 1-0 final.
Cumberlands outshot the Wildcats 13-5 in the match and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks. It marks UC's second straight top-12 win.
The Patriots will return to the pitch on Thursday, September 11
th, when the travel to Miami Gardens, FL to face St. Thomas. The match is set for 1 p.m.
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