BOYDS, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team got off to a winning start in their season opener, defeating Shippensburg 2-1 at the MD Soccerplex on Friday night.
FSU came out with high energy, as junior Keely Knotts put the match's first effort on target inside the first two minutes. Senior Toni Fiocco-Mizer was next to test Raider keeper Kendra Barlow, who did excellent to tip the striker's goal-bound effort away from the top-left corner.
Junior Mackenzie Alonso then got up for a header that looked to be looping under the bar until it was helped over by Barlow, keeping the game scoreless through the first 15 minutes.
The Bobcats were tenacious in continuing to win the ball back and not allowing Shippensburg to have much possession in their offensive third. Senior Lela Clark found herself open in the box for a scoring chance on a volley but couldn't generate enough power on her left foot to truly test Barlow.
Fiocco-Mizer and senior Hannah Thompson both tried their luck from range, but neither attempt was enough to break the deadlock, as the game stood 0-0 at halftime. FSU dominated the first half stats, holding SU without a shot and firing off nine of their own, as Barlow made six saves in goal.
No time was wasted for the opening goal of the game, as sophomore Carly Gillette took matters into her own hands, winning possession in midfield and driving forward before uncorking a 35-yard hammer into the top-left corner with just 20 seconds having passed.
Showing their hunger and desire to put the game out of reach, Gillette, Alonso, and junior Mei Homman all saw efforts blocked in the next five minutes. Junior Cat Smith was the one to make her mark, as in similar fashion to Gillette, strode forward from defense and launched a shot from distance on her left foot that found the bottom left corner.
As substitutions took place for both teams, the game featured less chances as the sides locked into a stalemate. The Raiders picked up the pace, winning a corner in the final 10 minutes as they searched for anything to get back in the game. Jenna Folmer swung the ball in and bounced off of a couple players from each team, eventually finding its way to Maddie Stichter towards the back post, who fired past the goal line defender to make it a 2-1 game.
On a free kick just inside the Shippensburg half, Homman fired a shot that looked to be FSU's third long-range goal, but Barlow was equal to it, tipping it over the bar to keep her team in the game. The Bobcats in the end were able to see out the final minutes without much threat, securing the victory.
Frostburg out-shot SU 18-2, with 11 shots on target to the Raiders' one. Barlow was the standout for Shippensburg, making nine saves in goal.
With the win, FSU improves to 1-0, while the Raiders are now 0-1. Frostburg returns to the MD Soccerplex on Sunday, September 3 to face Georgian Court at 1 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.
