George Washington University
6-4-0, 0-1-0 A-10
Saint Joseph's
8-1-1, 1-0-0 A-10
GW Women's Soccer Edged by Saint Joseph's
9/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA - The George Washington women's soccer squad was edged by Saint Joseph's, 2-1, in the opening match of Atlantic 10 play at the Hawks' Sweeney Field on a rainy Thursday evening.
Two first half goals proved to be too much for GW (6-4-0) to overcome, despite senior MacKenzie Cowley's seventh goal of the season. Saint Joseph's (8-1-1) increased its unbeaten streak to eight.
Saint Joseph's put the pressure on early, possessing the ball for much of the first 12 minutes of play, but GW's defense prevented any close chances for the Hawks.
The first shot of the match came in the 23rd minute for SJU, but redshirt junior keeper Miranda Horn caught the line drive shot for the save.
The Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when a cross from the left found Michael Finneyfrock in front of the net, who one-touched the ball for the score.
Horn then made a diving stop to her right to deflect a Saint Joseph's shot in the 30th minute to keep the Colonials within one.
GW nearly issued the equalizer in the 33rd minute, when junior Brittany Cooper broke away from the Hawks and found Cowley in the box, but SJU scrambled to make the save and keep the lead.
SJU increased its lead in the 41st minute after a shot snuck just inside of the left post to put the Hawks ahead, 2-0, at the intermission.
The Colonials got on the board just 19 seconds into the second half when Cowley converted a turnover at the top of the box into her team-leading seventh goal of the season with a low line drive into the left side of the net.
The Hawks countered with two shots within a 2:10 span beginning in the 52nd minute, but Horn grabbed both saves. The Colonials dominated possession for the next four minutes but were unable to score.
Rookie Deena DeSilva later laced a shot on goal from outside the box in the 73rd minute, but SJU made the save to hold on to a 2-1 lead.
The Hawks then put on an aggressive spurt, getting off two shots with a 24-second span in the 76th minute, but the first was tipped by Horn and the second missed just high.
The Colonials kept the pressure on as sophomore Dani Frese issued a shot in the 84th minute that landed wide.
A corner kick in the 90th minute marked GW's final opportunity, but SJU quickly cleared the attempt to take a 2-1 victory.
Horn finished the day with six saves.
The Buff and Blue return home on Sunday to take on St. Bonaventure in GW's annual Kickin' it for a Cure game at 1 p.m. at the GW Soccer Field on the Mount Vernon Campus.
Team Stats
FINNEYFROCK, Michael (1)
Assisted By: VAGNOZZI, Gabrielle
Cross from left side of box, shot from m
24:04
DIMES, Lauren (1)
Assisted By: WALDER, Lindsay
Shot from top right of box on ground to
40:29
COWLEY, MacKenzie (7)
Off turnover top left of box, low line d
45:41
