1-0 Win is Black Knights 8^th Shutout

 

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Kim An scored off of Molly McGuigan’s free kick in the 22nd  minute, and Army made that stand in a 1-0 non-league women’s soccer blanking of Mid-Hudson rival Marist Sunday afternoon at Clinton Field. The game was the final tune-up as the Black Knights (7-2-2) open their Patriot League slate next Sunday hosting Holy Cross.

 

In a closely contested game, Army ripped off five shots, two on goal, to Marist’s five shots (none on goal) in the first half with An tallying her team-leading sixth goal of the season midway through that period. A foul against Marist set up the winning goal when McGuigan booted a long ball off a free kick that bounced around in front of the goal with An reaching it first and finishing it off with a quick shot into the right corner of the net.

 

The goal was An’s career 15^th as she moved to within four of breaking into Army’s top 10 list, while the game-winner is her third of the season and career seventh in tying for ninth place with seven others.

 

Late in the first half, An sent a through pass to Dee Clegg who had gotten past Marist defense, but Army was whistled for offsides as seven were called in the game. The Black Knights received three of those calls and Marist was called for the infraction four times.  

 

The Red Foxes (5-4-0), whose four-game win streak was snapped in the loss, outshot Army 12-9 in the second half and held a slim 2-1 corner kick advantage. Marist, however, was unable to come up with the equalizer as Army senior goalkeeper keeper Monica Lee pulled up with all four of her saves in the final period.

 

Lee nipped the first three attempts coming within the first 10 minutes of the second half, pulling up with the ball on shots by Rycke Guiney, Nicole Kuhar and Jackie Frey, the last the most dangerous as it was by the near left post. Lee’s final save of the game came in the final minute of play on a long shot by Guiney en route to preserving her eighth shutout of the season and career 15th as she took over sole possession of fourth place on Army’s all-time career list.

 

The Black Knights came up short on two dangerous insurance attempts by Joey Molacek and An in the second half.  Molacek took on the backup keeper Corey Schaetzle one-on-one when she came out of the cage. Schaetzle, who did not give up a goal in finishing with five saves, blocked Molacek’s attempt in the 64th minute.

 

Late in the game, An took on Schaetzle in close following a through pass from Ruthie Rosenberger, but was denied getting her second goal of the night.

 

“We are happy ending non-conference play with a win and another shutout,” stated Army head coach Stefanie Golan. “We had some other opportunities that we didn’t put away and that we were disappointed with. The fact that we continue to create opportunities and find a way to win when games get tough is a good sign as we move forward.

 

“Our goalkeeper (Monica Lee) is great. She keeps the team focused and is very solid, and has built confidence throughout the course of the non-conference schedule. We are going in with her with the right mentality heading into the Patriot League.  I expect us to take another step forward when we enter conference play next week.”

 

Army makes its Patriot League debut next Sunday hosting Holy Cross at 1 p.m. The Black Knights were picked first in the league’s preseason poll and the Crusaders finished eighth.

 

ON THE PITCH: Army stretched its lead over Marist to 13-2 following its third straight win, along with posting its eighth shutout in a series that began in 1996 … Errin Helbling and Kim An led Army with three shots each … the shutout was Army’s second of the week … Army defeated Howard 1-0 Thursday afternoon … the Black Knights are in the middle of a six-game home stretch … Army shows a 5-1-2 mark at Clinton Field … the Black Knights out outscored their 11 opponents 15-5 this season with Monica Lee showing a 0.44 GAA.