Upset Bid for Women’s Soccer Falls Short at No. 7 DU

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Marygrove women’s soccer team continued its stretch of good play this week when they visited No. 7 Davenport Saturday (Oct. 4) in Grand Rapids. The Mustangs (1-9-1, 0-2-1 WHAC) played tough, but ultimately fell short of an upset as the seventh-ranked Panthers (8-2-1, 2-1-0 WHAC) used a pair of first half goals to win, 2-0, over a determined Green & Gold squad.

Despite falling by the narrow two-goal margin, the Mustangs played one of their best games of the season thanks to a well-organized back half that limited the Panthers to only a few scoring chances on the afternoon.

The Panthers – winners in eight of their first 11 matches this season – got on the board in the 27th minute behind an Amanda Skidmore goal to take a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs set the anchor down to stymie the Panthers for the remainder of the first half behind sound play from defenders Olimpia Bonilla (Salt Lake City, Utah/Barton CC), Kamry Miller (New Boston, Mich./UM-Dearborn), Sara Ruch (Oxford, Mich./Oxford) and Hailey Varney (Flushing, Mich./Auguste-Pattberg-Schule).

The back line – combined with a defensive-minded midfield – held the high-octane Panthers offense at bay despite allowing an unlucky 41st minute goal to go down, 2-0, into the halftime break.

Stellar defense for both teams would be the theme of the second half as neither squad produced a goal in the 2-0 Davenport victory.

The Mustangs were led offensively by Varney, Kaitlyn Vigna (China Twp., Mich./Marine City High School) and Cheyenne York (Taylor, Mich./Truman High School) with a shot each. The Panthers countered with 10 shots on goal to earn their second conference win of the season.

The Mustangs will return home for a pair of matches next week as the Indiana Tech Warriors visit Wednesday (Oct. 8) for a 4 p.m. kick before the Mustangs will celebrate Senior Day 2014 at the conclusion of their 12 p.m. match on Saturday (Oct. 11) against Madonna.

WOMEN’S SOCCER CONTACT: Tim Johnston | 313-927-1419 | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
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