Box Score

The Malone University women's soccer team was sunk by a pair of second half goals Wednesday evening, falling to Walsh University 2-0.

The Pioneers (1-2) saw the majority of the ball in the first half, but struggled to penetrate a Walsh side that was more than willing to drop numbers behind the ball and let Malone swing the ball across their back four in the first half. Neither team generated much of any attack as both teams tried to feel out their opponent early.

The second half was a much more open affair. Walsh (2-0) looked like they would take the lead in the first minute of the second half when Erin Peskura fired a shot from close range but senior goalkeeper Angie Nutial got just enough of the ball to deflect it off the crossbar.

Payback would prove sweet for Peskura in the 60th minute when she corralled a cross and beat Nutial to the near post.

After conceding the goal, interim coach Josh Jones urged his side to pressure higher up on the pitch, which resulted in a few golden scoring opportunities down the stretch. Malone looked poised to level the game in the 75th minute when senior Cassy Daniels slipped in behind the Cavaliers defense but goalkeeper Taylor Stano did well to get a left hand to Daniels shot deflecting it wide of the goal.

Malone looked like they would have another opportunity to tie when senior midfielder Amanda Hanlon was taken down rather harshly at the top of the box with a minute remaining but the referee did not see enough to warrant a foul. Walsh would counter moments later and score in the very final tick of the game when Carley Adams squared a pass that beat Nutial to Jessie Gearhart who rolled the ball into the vacant goal.

The Cavaliers held an 11-7 advantage in shots and 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Stano (1-0) picked up the win in relief duty, stopping three shots in the second half. Nutial dropped to 1-2 on the season despite making four stops. Malone will look to rebound in their next match when they travel to Saginaw Valley State (MI) on Sept. 14th.