Cabrini women’s soccer team improved to 3-4-0 on the season with a 2-1 win over The Catholic University of America from Washington, D.C. this past Saturday at the Edith Robb Dixon Field.
Senior captain Nikki Duggan kicked off the scoring at the 34:24 mark finding her second goal of the season.
Senior Jennifer Burke found Duggan for a header into the cage off a penalty corner kick.
The match turned into a physical back and forth battle until junior education major Heather Thompson ended the scoring drought with a goal nine seconds before half time.
Rookie Molly Schwoebel set Thompson up for the goal just inside the box about 12-yards out.
“We really wanted this game,” Thompson said. “In the huddle we talked about how we had more heart than them, we definitely showed that in this game.”
Thompson’s score was her third of the season tying junior Sabina DeGisi for the team lead.
Sophomore goalkeeper Gianna Poretta had a break out day where she captured a season high 12 saves including seven in the second half.
Coming into the second stanza The Catholic University Cardinals were down by two. The Cardinals came back onto the field and managed 18 shots on goal going against only six shots on goal by the Cavs.
“Each game we play helps us build as a team and prepare for the conference schedule ahead,” head coach Ken Prothero said. “In this game we learned how to protect a lead at the end of a game; we need to work on playing both offense and defense as a one strong unit.”
At the 70-minute mark, 20 minutes until the final horn, Catholic freshman Erin Saia assisted fellow rookie Caroline Burke for the Cards lone tally of the game. Burke bounced a shot over Porretta’s head for the goal. This cut the Cavs lead in half.
“The team needs to learn how to play 90 minutes of all out soccer,” assistant coach Cole Vennie said. “We came out on top today because we out-hearted our opponent, this is what we need to do every game from here on out.”
Down just one goal in the second with minutes on the clock, Catholic had two chances to knot up the game but they could not convert.
The closest they came was a heart-stopping header from Burke which was off the mark.
The Cardinals came out on top in corner kicks with a 9-5 advantage over the hosting Cavs, seven of them occurring in the second half.
Catholic goalkeeper Amanda Cowan went home with nine saves, while Cabrini ended the game with an impressive 27 shots on goal.
DeGisi and Duggan ended the game leading the team in shots on goal with six and four, respectively.
Just last season the Cavs took on Catholic University and lost the contest 6-3.
“This is one of the best teams we will face all year, so it definitely shows who we are and what we can be as a team this season, it was a good test for us,” Prothero said. “I know we can finish in one of the top spots in the conference and contend for the CSAC crown.”
