Frostburg State University Athletics

ATHENS, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team used a dominant first half to power past Concord 5-1 in their Wednesday road victory.
 
In the early part of the game, neither side seemed to have the upper hand, with attacking opportunities not producing any chances until the ninth minute, when junior Mollie Rebuck did extremely well to keep the ball in play on the endline, cutting inside and drawing a save from CU keeper Maddie Loughborough. Just three minutes later, junior Cassidy Paige received the ball on the right wing and danced around her defender, getting to the edge of the box and sending a cross in that was met by unmarked senior Chelsea Pettyjohn two yards out for a 1-0 lead.
 
Looking to respond quickly, the Mountain Lions earned a corner kick 15 minutes in, however the volleyed effort went well high of the bar. Over the next 20 minutes, the Bobcats found their offensive rhythm, starting with some great combination play between juniors Ana Davis and Madison Hobson gave Paige a fantastic chance on her left foot but sent it  high and wide. Keeping up the pressure, FSU earned a corner kick soon after, where Hobson found Rebuck to keep the ball alive in the box, then Davis easily headed home to double the lead.
 
Within the next five minutes, Frostburg had taken full control, as off a throw-in, junior Elena Fernandez showed great skill in getting around her defender in the 18 and putting the ball on a platter for freshman Kelly Dougherty to sweep home. Dougherty then took advantage of a poor Concord clearance, controlling on her chest and volleying home for a stunning 4-0 score.
 
Now looking to salvage something from the half, the Mountain Lions had a pair of efforts go well wide, while sophomore Audrey Meadows hit one just off target for the Bobcats. With just under five to go in the half, senior Madison Hinton played a fantastic ball through to sophomore Reese Rizzo, who drew a diving save out of new keeper Kayla Garza, as Davis kept the ball alive, shielding her defender before finding Rizzo to get her deflected shot into the net and a 5-0 lead at the break.
 
CU came into the second half on the front foot, hitting an early shot right at junior keeper Kayla Doty. Frostburg then resumed the offense they enjoyed in the first half, as Rebuck sent one shot wide and had another shut down, as did junior Rayiah Davis. After defending a pair of FSU corner kicks, Concord went on a foray into attack, where a cross was laid into the path of Daisy Cook to fire into the back of the net and breaking up the clean sheet bid.
 
Sensing some momentum, the Mountain Lions sent an effort high of goal, then Ella Rowell blasted a ball from 30 yards out that cannoned back off the crossbar and away from goal. Six minutes later, the Davis twins kicked off a quick counterattack through midfield, finding Fernandez out wide to find Dougherty cutting into the box, however Garza denied her hat trick with a save.
 
At the other end, Doty dove to her right to keep out a shot by Molly Watters, then made a much easier gather on a follow-up effort five minutes later. In the final 10 minutes, CU sent a shot wide of the net, as Meadows had the final effort of the game that went off target, with the Bobcats emerging 5-1 winners.
 
FSU held a 17-11 advantage in shots, doubling the hosts' efforts on target at eight to four.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 7-2-1, while Concord drops to 2-7-1. The Bobcats will return home on Saturday, October 3 to host West Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m., where they will celebrate Senior Day just before the match. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.