HUNTINGDON, Pa.- A second-half goal from Anna Kauffman (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) pushed Juniata past Catholic (#10 in the region), 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium as the Eagles remain perfect in Landmark play.
Kerry Leonard (Cockeysville, Md./Maryvale Prep) had eight saves in the contest and also provided the assist on the goal.
Catholic was playing a high line that Juniata tested early. The Eagles were called offside four times in the opening 15 minutes. The first half saw the Cardinals pressure the Eagle defense, but they stood strong as Leonard made several saves to keep things even. In the final minutes of the first half, Wynter Adams (Houtzdale, Pa./Moshannon Valley) came down the right wing, beat a defender and slide the ball across the middle to Aubrie Christensen (Suwanee, Ga./Manheim). She smashed the ball towards goal but the keeper parried it white as the teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
Less than a minute into the second half, Catholic threatened. They came down the left flank and looked to send a low cross across the middle, but Leonard dove and corralled the ball to end the danger. She then boomed a punt well past midfield that bounced over the head of the Cardinal defense. Kauffman touched it past the defender, dribbled down and calmly fired the ball into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.
Fifteen minutes later, Christensen almost doubled the lead. She came down the left side of the field and fired a shot from 16 yards out that came flying off the crossbar.
In the 70th minute, the Cardinal defense misplayed a ball at midfield that Brooke Rotheram (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) took the other way and went sprinting towards goal. She ripped a shot near post that the keeper pushed just wide.
Six minutes later Catholic look to have found an equalizer when the fired a shot from 12 yards out with Leonard out of net but Kristen Racis (Womelsdorf, Pa./Conrad Weiser) blocked the shot.
In the 89th minute, Leonard made a diving stop on a free kick to cement the win.
The Cardinals held a 20-14 edge in shots while Juniata held a 5-3 edge in corners.
"I think it was a bring your lunch pail to work type victory," said head coach Scott McKenzie after the game. "I think it was the kids who aren't going to get the stats that played exceptionally well today. Our back four of Elizabeth Bentz, Kristin Racis, Elisabeth Hamme and Lauren Ferretti played very well in front of Kerry Leonard who put in a fine effort. I think you can say Catholic is a very strong team and it was a privilege to play our best against the best."
Juniata will play at Pitt-Greensburg, Tuesday at 4:00.
