FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State women's soccer team opened the 2019 Homecoming festivities on Thursday evening with an MEC showdown with Fairmont at Bobcat Stadium. However, the result didn't finish in favor of Frostburg as the Falcons scored the only goal of the contest in the 51
st minute for the win.
The game was a battle for first place in the MEC North standings and the win lifts Fairmont to 4-0-1 in the league and 5-2-1 overall.
Frostburg endured its second loss in the league and sits in second place at 3-2. The Bobcats fell to 3-4-1 overall.
The opening half saw both squads trying to control the tempo and pace of the game as the two combined for just five shots. Fairmont held a narrow 3-2 edge.
Sophomore Abbey Dennis had Frostburg's first shot on goal in the first as she tried a low shot in the 25th minute that was turned away by Fairmont keeper Taylor Kennedy.
At 26:00, Fairmont took its first shot on goal as sophomore Stephanie Vigezzi made a low save on a shot from Mackenzie Gillispie. Nearly a minute later, Vigezzi made a jumping save as she tipped Gillispie's shot up over the cross bar.
Early in the second half, Vigezzi made another save on a hard shot towards the low center of the goal from Gillispie again.
Fairmont broke on the scoreboard at 50:51 off a corner kick. The Falcons' Ella WIlson hit a low pass to a charging Abigail Fowler directly off the corner and Fowler's shot found the lower right corner of the net.
The Bobcats had several chances to even the contest following the goal.
Senior Brooke Shehade had a shot sail high in the 53
rd minute and she had another attempt blocked at 55:11. Junior Danielle McLain had Frostburg's only shot on the goal in the second half in the 57
th minute, but Kennedy was again there for the save.
Shehade took Frostburg's final shot of the night in the 89
th minute, but the Falcon defense was able to stop the attempt before it reached the goal.
Vigezzi earned her third start in net this season and notched three saves in the loss. Her counterpart Kennedy needed two saves for the shutout victory.
Frostburg returns to action on Saturday at Davis & Elkins at 5:00 pm