By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich Photography
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – From the first whistle, the Juniata College women's soccer team took control of the match today, but it took until the 68th minute for the Eagles to notch the game-winning goal to defeat Goucher College 2-1 in Landmark Conference play. Juniata is now 9-3 overall and improves to 1-1 in league.
"It feels good for the team for all the hard work they've put in," said head coach Scott McKenzie. "I think they deserved to win their last Landmark game so came back and they got the win this game. I'm happy for them. It puts us back in the mix for the playoff. It puts us back in the mix in the Landmark. It's what they need and what they deserve."
The Eagles came out of the gate flying and got on the board just seven minutes and 15 seconds into the match. Sophomore Emily Green (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) crossed a ball into the box where senior Paula Pryor (Westbrookville, N.Y./Burke Catholic) nailed it home for her team-leading 10th goal of the year.
"You can score lots of goal during your season, but what you do during conference play is what's most important," said McKenzie. "I'm glad to see that Paula got on the sheet tonight in a conference match. That will help her get the respect and recognition that she's earned as a player."
Juniata's highflying offense, along with its solid defensive core, kept the Gophers occupied for the majority of the first half. It took until the 23rd minute before Goucher was able to break through and launch its first shot on goal. The Eagles outshot Goucher 13-2 in the first half, but freshman goalkeeper Erin Mueller (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) made a number of saves to prevent the Gophers from registering a shot.
"We took part of their attention away from their attack because they were thinking about how they were going to handle us when we got the ball back," said McKenzie. "Erin Mueller came out in the first half and smothered a couple of great shots. She came off of her line and was very aggressive which is something we've been working on in practice and I think that sent a message to Goucher that they weren't going to have a free shot on frame."
In the match, the Juniata defense only allowed two shots by the Gophers and did not surrender a corner kick.
"Our back line did a remarkable job. A great job from Cara Spiess when she went in when Katie Szczur went down. Cara Spiess, Katie Szczur, Lillian Dudek, Devin Kos, Erin Mueller, Shayna King, they are just great defenders and they are really able to accomplish the task at hand."
Despite the lopsided appearance, Goucher fought back hard to answer the Eagles pressure. In the 35th minute the Gophers found the back of the net to send the match into the half tied at 1-1.
"We had to answer the physical bell and I think we did a pretty good job keeping our cool in the midst of increasing physical pressure," said McKenize. "That's always good. The danger is to retaliate and get out of your system of play, but we were able to keep our heads while all around us was loosing theirs. We kept our heads and kept the game plan and kept the ball moving."
Goucher took control at the start of the second half earning a number of potentially dangerous chances in the Juniata end of the field. As the intensity mounted, senior Alicia Snyder (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) broke the tie with her fifth goal of the year. Sophomore Michaela Lacek (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern) played a through ball behind the Gophers back line to spring Snyder. She ran onto the ball and took one touch and slammed her shot far post for the goal.
"You can guarantee yourself three things," said McKenzie. "You can guarantee yourself the sun is going to rise tomorrow, the moon will come out tonight, and Alicia Snyder is going to give you everything she's got every game. That's what you can count on. We've bailed her out and she's bailed us out a thousand times during her career and it's just so much fun to see her play."
The Eagles outshot Goucher 24-2 and out cornered them 5-0. Juniata next faces Pitt-Greensburg in the first of a five-game road trip before returning home against Drew College Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. in the first half of a double-header with the men's team.
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