The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s soccer team clinched first win of the season Thursday night with a 1-0 victory at Davenport University (Mich.).
“I am definitely pleased with our performance tonight,” Head Coach Daniel Seiffert said. “We played the way that we wanted and moved the ball really well. Davenport is a talented and well coached team, so we are excited to go on the road and get a result with seven seconds left in the match.”
After suffering a 3-0 loss last Saturday at the hands of defending NAIA National Champion Lindsey Wilson University, the Lady Cougars headed to Davenport looking for a win.
The first half was a defensive battle as both teams combined for just eight total shots. Shot attempts by Alice Linsell, Nea-Stina Liljedahl, and Taylor Genzink were negated as the Davenport (0-1-0) offense was limited by the MVNU defense.
In her first start in goal for MVNU (1-1-0), Madi Moore recorded two saves in the first half as a part of a tough defensive effort from the Lady Cougars.
MVNU provided its own offensive attack in the first half with shots from Emily Heaton and Lydia Simpson, both of which were saved by Davenport’s Tara Gessler. Rachel Graver sent her only shot of the first half wide and Rachel Baker missed high on a header attempt as the Lady Cougars were held in check by the strong Davenport defense.
Heading into the second half, the Lady Cougars continued to tighten down defensively as Davenport’s Shameeka Fishley saw her only shot of the night sail wide of the goal.
The offensive action was kept at bay until the 90th minute when Senior Forward Casey Apple headed a ball from three yards out with seven seconds remaining to score the game-winning goal for the Lady Cougars. The goal was Apple’s first of 2015 and the second game winning goal of her career.
While the offensive excitement was limited until the end, the Lady Cougars defeated a tough Davenport team that finished 2014 with a 10-5-3 record and were ranked as high as 7th atop the NAIA top 25 polls.
Baker led MVNU in total shots with Apple notching the game winner. Moore went to 1-0 on the season in goal thanks to her first victory as a Lady Cougar. Linsell attempted two shots for the Lady Panthers and had one of two shots on goal. Gessler made four saves in net, but suffered the loss which was her first of the season.
The Lady Cougars will continue the 2015 season when they head to Purdue University Calumet this Saturday at 3:00 pm.
“We will rest up and have a recovery session tomorrow as we look to prepare for Purdue Calumet on Saturday.” Seiffert added.
