Women's Soccer Flies Past Rivier Saturday, 5-1
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's soccer team defeated the Rivier University Raiders in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match, Saturday October 6th with a lofty score of 5-1.
An intense scoreless game broke out when the Blue Jays got a spark in the 27th minute. A perfect through ball from freshman Ali O'Neill to fellow freshman Rylee Snow whose speed and footwork aided her to beat Rivier keeper, Kasey Smith, with a nicely placed bottom left corner of the goal.
The Blue Jays didn't let up. Within the next minute after Snow's goal, senior Rileigh Luba found herself in the far right corner of the field with an opportunity, Luba shoots it near post and the ball trickled off Smith's hands and into the goal. Blue Jays now lead 2-0.
The Blue Jays don't take their foot off the gas as senior Sarah Palko enters the game and places a beautiful top corner shot to make the lead 3-0.
The Raiders responded with 2 tough shots on goal, both of which junior goalie Megan Ricci rejected.
Smith ended the half strong with a save from the foot of freshman Ali O'Neil.
The second half got underway and in the 50th minute Sarah Palko netted her second goal of the game with assisted from Snow and Ghent. Ghent was in the far right corner, placed a cross into the box, Snow takes a touch and passes across the face of the goal where Palko is to place it with her left foot into the wide-open goal, passed the diving Smith. USJ now leads 4-0.
Rivier got on the board during the 65th minute with a header goal from Madison Wescott, her second of the season. She was assisted by a cross from teammate Keara Sheehan, taking the score to 4-1.
In the 76th minute Rivier committed a foul resulting in a penalty kick. Senior Amanda Ghent walked up to the line and rocketed a well-placed ball past Smith for her second goal of the season.
This triumph for the Blue Jays brings them to (insert record overall) (insert record GNAC).
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