Frostburg State University Athletics

ELKINS, W. Va. - The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team used a second half goal from junior Rayiah Davis and a strong defensive effort to take a 1-0 road victory over Davis & Elkins on Sunday afternoon. 

FSU hit the front foot early on, as junior Mollie Rebuck did well to gather a long ball in the corner three minutes in and sent a cross to classmate Cassidy Paige, who tried to beat keeper Riann Stevens at her near post but shot too close to her. Two minutes later, senior Madison Hinton played a quick free kick to junior Madison Hobson, as her cross was tipped by Stevens onto the head of junior Ana Davis, with her effort going just wide. 

Keeping up the pressure, Rebuck nearly broke through the defense and was brought down at the edge of the 18 for a free kick, which Hinton missed wide. Paige then played Rebuck down the right wing as her ball into the box went over Stevens' head and clipped off the top of the bar. The Bobcats continued to control the next 15 minutes, however they didn't create as many chances, with senior Chelsea Pettyjohn putting the ball in the back of the net but was offside, then Rebuck fired wide right. The Senators managed their first shot of the game 25 minutes in, with Emma Perez's effort lacking the pace to trouble senior Mia Graff. Rebuck then did well to control a ball at midfield and play Paige through on goal, as she tried to go across Stevens who made another stop. 

Frostburg's best chance to score came from junior Ainsley Wilson playing a high ball into the box which took a bounce and was headed through to Rayiah Davis, who volleyed just high over the goal from a couple yards out. D&E had their highest momentum in the final five minutes of the half, sending a free kick wide before Graff made back-to-back saves on hits from outside the 18, with the game remaining scoreless. 

As they had done in the first half, FSU peppered Stevens' goal with plenty of chances to open the second, as Rebuck tried a curling effort within the first minute, then Rayiah Davis saw a shot blocked at the edge of the box. Five minutes later, Wilson tried her luck from distance but shot too close to Stevens, then Paige hit one on her left foot that also was right at the netminder. After eight minutes, the Bobcats finally found their breakthrough, as Paige put a high ball to the center of the box that Rayiah Davis was the first to react to, heading past Stevens for a 1-0 lead. 

Looking to respond immediately, the Senators sent wave after wave at Frostburg's defense, needing to fend off a pair of corners and seeing Graff dive to her right to deny Kristia Kouppi an equalizer. After settling back down through the next 10 minutes, FSU looked certain to double the advantage, as Pettyjohn latched onto a loose ball at the top of the 18 and passed to an open Paige on the penalty spot but she volleyed over the bar. 

Six minutes later, freshman Jocelyn Smith tested Stevens on a 25-yard shot that went right at her, then Rebuck made contact on a long ball into the box with her thigh but couldn't get any power to trouble Stevens. D&E's final chance of the afternoon came 12 minutes from time, as Ava Sherman was played down the left wing, cutting inside and sending the ball towards goal, which Graff smartly reacted to in keeping it out, as her defense held them without another shot the rest of the way for the one-goal win. 

The Bobcats held an 18-7 advantage in shots, with ten on target to the hosts' six. 

With the win, Frostburg improves to 13-2-2 on the year, while Davis & Elkins drops to 3-8-6. FSU will return home for their regular season finale against Fairmont State on Wednesday, October 28 at 5 p.m., where the winning team will be crowned North Division champions. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.