Shotton’s Score Lifts Guilford College Women’s Soccer to Season-Opening Victory Over Berry
Franken records 18th career shutout, inches within one of program-record
Written by: Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Jenna Shotton’s (Walnut Cove, N.C.) left-footed strike in the 28th minute proved sufficient for the Guilford College women’s soccer team, as they outlasted difficult regional foe, Berry College, 1-0, for an opening day win at Appenzeller Field on Saturday.
The initial contest of the season for both sides, the Quakers come out standing unblemished at 1-0-0 while the Vikings drop to 0-1-0.
A season after pilling up eight shutouts, the second-most in a season in program history, Ady Franken (Peoria, Ill.) wasted no time notching her first clean sheet of the new year, and the 18th of her career, inching within one of the program’s career record. The defense in front of her was superb at limiting the Vikings’ looks, permitting eight shots, but of those she was only required to make a single save, improving to 1-0-0 in net in the process. Maggie Jones got the nod for Berry and was not challenged often and generally did her job making one save on the four total shots she faced, but she nonetheless dropped to 0-1-0.
Shotton’s tally is her first of the season, and in fact, the first in the past two seasons after missing last fall due to injury. Ashlyn Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) provided the helper on the score for her first collegiate assist. Ainsley Yates (West End, N.C.) was the only other Quaker to register a shot on-frame. Giselle Aitken took one shot and it was the lone attempt to find the frame for the guests. Peyton Goolsby and Mia Ries had a pair of shot attempts each.
Berry set the tempo in the first 15 minutes of action, controlling the ball in their offensive half for a majority of that span. Within that timeframe is when the Vikings got their top scoring chance of the game. Off a well-executed through-ball down left side, Aitken got a clean one-on-one look from just inside the top-left of the 18-yard box. However, Franken was able to throw her foot at it and deter the shot headed towards the low-middle portion of the net, and deny what was ultimately BC’s lone shot on goal as Ries’ second chance look missed the frame.
In the 28th minute Emily Parker (Lillington, N.C.) utilized a header redirecting it with great touch out of the air just on the Quakers defensive half. Miller controlled the ball, turned, and made a terrific, lengthy run through contact from the right wing, slashing towards the middle before sending a feed through the center of the top of the 18. Shotten caught up to it at the top-left of the six-yard box, and rocketed a left-footed shot past the diving keeper, and into the lower-right to score what ended up as the match’s only tally.
At the break, Berry held a 5-3 edge in shots, but it was GC who had a higher-quality of looks with two on frame against the Vikings’ one. A clean game both ways throughout the contest, BC was hit with four of the half’s six fouls and received the stanza’s only corner.
Guilford asserted themselves in the second half as the defense locked it down. Berry had some opportunities including a dangerous cross through the box that beat Franken, but failed to find the foot of a Viking on the weak side. Overall, however, the Quakers were constantly well-positioned, blocking several would-be shot attempts, particularly throughout the game’s final 20 minutes.
The GC defense, and all their blocks, resulted in the Vikings managing just three shots in the second half, and none of them were on-target. The hosts only got one look in the half, and it was a good one, but it was a header that stayed above the crossbar. Their offensive pressure was rewarded with the only three corner kicks of the half as well and following a chaotic final few three minutes, Guilford held on to secure the win.
The women’s soccer team returns to the pitch on Wednesday, September 4 when they hit the road for the first time to battle North Carolina Wesleyan University. First kick is set for 4 PM.
#GoQuakes