Frostburg State University Athletics

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team pulled out a 2-1 win against Charleston (WV) at home on Sunday afternoon.

FSU nearly had the lead after just 20 seconds, as junior Cassidy Paige sent a ball in from the far side which hit the crossbar and came back out away from goal. Four minutes later, Paige did extremely well to press on a Golden Eagles error and found junior Mollie Rebuck in the box, who had an easy finish past UC goalkeeper Ines Degli Esposti to give Frostburg an early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats came out of the kickoff with momentum, as Paige was played through by junior Ainsley Wilson and tried to catch Degli Esposti off her line with a chip shot but sent it wide of the goal. Three minutes later, senior Madison Hinton almost took advantage of another Charleston giveaway, however put too much power on her shot and sent it just high of the bar.

It took nearly 15 minutes for Charleston to take their first shot, as Li-Lou Debaecker hit a liner right at senior goalkeeper Mia Graff's chest. The Bobcats resumed some control and had another pair of chances in the next five minutes, with senior Chelsea Pettyjohn and junior Ana Davis both hitting tame efforts that Delgi Esposti was equal to. Debaecker nearly found an equalizer just past the 20-minute mark, however her free kick attempt didn't have quite enough curl on it, going wide of the post. Hinton then put another shot wide of the mark, as neither side managed much until the final few minutes of the half. With just under seven left on the clock, freshman Kelly Dougherty had a hit outside the box too close to Degli Esposti, then junior Elena Fernandez saw her effort blocked as the first half ended with the Bobcats up 1-0. 

With FSU looking to protect their advantage and UC unable to create much offensively, it took eight minutes for either side to get a shot away, with junior Rayiah Davis seeing hers blocked in front of goal. On a free kick from the left side, Hinton's ball was flicked on as Rebuck tried to direct her volley on target but hit the wrong side of the post. 20 minutes in, Paige latched onto a loose ball at midfield and sprinted towards goal, beating two defenders on her way but sending her shot just to the right of a diving Degli Esposti and out for a goal kick.

Just two minutes later, FSU had a miscue at the back, as Abigail Harrison took advantage, moving around a charging Graff and shooting past her to even the score at 1-1. Seeking a swift response, Frostburg earned a pair of corners in the next five minutes but couldn't create a chance from either. Heading to the final 15, freshman Mia Hudson tried to head in after a free kick was tipped away by Degli Esposti, then Wilson's long-range chance was blocked by a Golden Eagle defender.

Still controlling possession and earning another corner, Pettyjohn had a flicked header that lacked the power needed to beat Degli Esposti. With just over five minutes left, Davis turned inside her own half and drove the ball down the pitch, passing to Doughtery on left wing, who then laid the ball on a platter for Paige inside the box, finishing into the back of the net to give the Bobcats a late 2-1 lead. That goal was all FSU needed, as Davis, Rebuck, and Hinton all played keepway in the offensive third for the final minutes until the clock hit zero to come away with the 2-1 win. 

The Bobcats held a 16-3 advantage in shots, with seven being on target compared to UC's two.

With the win, FSU improves to 6-2-1 while Charleston falls to 3-4-2 on the year. Frostburg next hits the road on Wednesday, September 30, as they head to Athens, WV to face Concord at 1 PM. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.