ALLENTOWN, Pa.- The Juniata women's soccer team opened the year at Muhlenberg but came up on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline, Friday evening at Varsity Field.
Making her first start, Cait Besch (Bellefonte, Pa. / Bellefonte Area HS) made four stops in the first half to keep the Mules scoreless. Paige Bulgarelli (York, Pa. / York Suburban) and Brooke Rotheram (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) tested the Muhlenberg keeper minutes apart late in the half, but she was equal to both shots as the teams remained deadlocked at halftime.
The Mules struck in the 57th minute on a shot from the top the bock and again in the 68th minute when they sent home a bouncing ball from a corner kick. The Eagles could not find an answer, with Talia Bertrando (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick High School) taking the lone shot for JC in the second half, but again the Muhlenberg keeper was equal to the challenge.
Besch ended up with 10 saves in her first ever start.
The Eagles will return to action on at home on Tuesday at 6:00 against Chatham.