PAXTON, Mass. - The Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team captured its ninth win of the fall campaign following a 3-1 road victory over the AMCATS of Anna Maria College on Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.
Sophomore Nicole Pracon (Derby, Conn.) earned her first collegiate win in goal behind a six-save performance, while the offense utilized a balanced attack, with three different players - Jordan Kikosicki (East Haven, Conn.), Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.), Haley Andrews (Prospect, Conn.) - tallying a goal for the Falcons.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 3 | Anna Maria 1
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (9-5, 7-4 GNAC) | Anna Maria (2-12-2, 0-9-2 GNAC)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
Less than eight minutes into the action, 7:17 to be exact, Albertus got on the board behind a goal from Kikosicki. Andrews took control of the ball early and quickly took off up the pitch, where Kikosicki was waiting for the pass. The senior forward didn't disappoint, firing the pass from Andrews past the AMCATS keeper Rachel Matloff for the first score of the game. The teams traded shots for the next seven minutes before the AMCATS tied the game at 1-all on a goal from Keannah Dunsmore.
Over the next 12 minutes of action, Anna Maria continued to apply pressure, ripping off the next seven shots of the game, but Pracon was able to deflect two of them to keep the score knotted at 1-all. The Falcons finally broke through in the 44th-minute of the first, with Raposo taking the pass from Ashley Shaw (Milford, Conn.) and sending a missile whizzing past Matloff to give the Falcons the 2-1 lead heading into the halftime break.
The second half began with a slew of fouls on both teams, while Anna Maria got off a shot attempt, but was unable to tie the match. A foul by Anna Maria in the 55th-minute gave Andrews a penalty kick and the senior forward didn't disappoint, sending a laser into the back of the mesh to give the visitors the 3-1 advantage. The next eight minutes saw Pracon tested between the posts, but the sophomore netminder held firm, denying the AMCATS on three separate occasions and keeping the score in favor of the Falcons. Anna Maria continued to apply pressure, getting off a corner kick and another shot at the 65th-minute, but Pracon was a wall in the net, deflecting the shot and preserving the Falcons' two-goal advantage.
The Falcons managed three corner kicks and two shots over the next eight minutes but were unable to add to their lead. The teams continued to battle for the ball until the 83rd-minute when Shaw's shot attempt went wide of the goal. The AMCATS would manage a final shot over the last seven minutes, but Pracon continued her stellar play in the net and repelled the shot to preserve the Falcon's victory.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Nicole Pracon (W, 1-1): 7 Shots on Goal | 1 Goal-Against | 6 Saves
Anna Maria: Rachel Matloff (L, 1-8-1): 4 Shots on Goal | 3 Goals-Against | 1 Save
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Anna Maria came out on top in the shots category, outshooting the Falcons by a 17-11 margin.
- Both teams registered three corner kicks in the contest.
- The Falcons picked up six saves to the AMCATS one.
- The AMCATS were whistled for 10 fouls, while the Falcons were whistled for five.
- Anna Maria put seven shots on goal during the match, while the Falcons managed four shots on goal.
NOTEWORTHY
- Raposo continued her recent offensive surge, scoring her sixth goal in the last three games.
- Kikosicki's goal was the eighth of her career.
- Andrews' goal tonight was her eighth of the season.
- Andrews has tallied an assist in three straight contests.
- Shaw's assist on Raposo's goal was her first of the season.
- With tonight's victory, Coach Wajnowski is one victory shy of 130 career win's with the Falcons.
UP NEXT
The women's soccer team returns to the pitch on Friday night for a home battle with the Cadets of Norwich University under the lights of Celentano Field! Kick-off is set for 6:00 PM.
