WASHINGTON, D.C. - A pair of Cardinals goals in each half left the Juniata women's soccer team 4-0 down in a defeat against Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
Catholic opened the contest with two shots that went over the crossbar in the first five minutes of play.
The Cardinals were soon rewarded for their early efforts with a ninth-minute goal via a corner kick delivered to the near post and headed into the net.
Cati Besch made three crucial saves in the 13th, 25th, and 37th minutes to keep the deficit at one.
Catholic found its second goal in the 38th minute as a through ball on the ground led to a series of failed clearances, and shots rebounded off defenders before a shot found its way through from six yards out.
Following the second goal, Alyssa Bui missed over the top of the goal on a free kick chance for 30 yards out, sending the Eagles into halftime down by two.
Besch made another save in the opening minutes of the second half before Bui got her second free kick chance at goal from 35 yards out, missing to the right.
Catholic pressed on for more goals with three shots from the 60th to the 65th minute, with one of the shots hitting the post and another coming off the crossbar.
The third goal for Catholic came from the left side and on a narrow-angle, as the ball made its way over Besch and into the top right corner, following a cross from the right into the dangerous area.The fourth and final goal came from a corner in the 81st minute that was delivered low and at the near post before it was tapped into the net.
Besch made a couple more saves in the last ten minutes, ending the day with six saves.
Catholic totaled 21 shots, with ten on goal, while Bui registered the two Eagles shots from free-kick opportunities.
The women's soccer team hosts Landmark Conference rival Susquehanna on Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00 pm. Juniata holds a 6-18-2 record against the River Hawks.
