Defense Firm For Women’s Soccer in Conference Win Over Eastern Mennonite
Anderson, Berry provide offense as Quakers pick up point in third straight match
from Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Permitting a mere two shots all afternoon, the Guilford College women’s soccer team’s defense was superb, eventually breaking through offensively to secure their second-straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over Eastern Mennonite University, 2-0, at the EMU Turf Field on Saturday.
Securing a point in their third consecutive match, the Quakers improve to 8-2-2, 2-1-1 in league play and extend their head-to-head unbeaten streak against the Monarchs to six-straight, the longest on record for either side in the rivalry’s history. For EMU, their first conference victory remains elusive, falling to 0-4-0 and 2-10-1 overall.
Thanks to the work done by the GC backline in front of her, Ady Franken (Peoria, Ill.) faced a season-low two shots with only one posing a threat. She made the one save she needed to, collecting her third consecutive shutout and seventh on the season to improve to 7-2-2. The hosts turned to Aja Laun in goal and she was much busier, facing 25 shots, 14 of them on frame, the senior keeper made 12 stops but allowed two goals to fall to 1-10-1.
For the second-straight game, Naomi Anderson (Youngsville, N.C.) netted the game-winner for the Quakers, her fourth such tally of the season. Kylee Berry (Kernersville, N.C.) added an insurance goal late as well. Mya Rivera (Parish, Fla.) was tied with Anderson for a match-high six shot attempts but it was Jenna Shotton’s (Walnut Cove, N.C.) five looks on goal that led all players. Esme Cardoso-Rodriguez was the lone Monarch to get a shot on frame while Amiah Carter also attempted a shot for the hosts.
Guilford was in command right from the opening kick, controlling the possession and the tempo basically all 90 minutes. Their top scoring opportunity of the first stanze came in the 15th minute when, on a counterattack, Rivera threaded a great pass from the center of the pitch to the left wing where Carmen Ellis (Johnson City, Tenn.) ran it down. She took a shot from a tough angle that was saved by Laun, but the ricochet went to Anderson who shot it with her left foot, getting underneath it to miss high.
The Quakers got 12 looks in the opening 45, but only got four of them on net. Their defense was brilliant, however, restricting the Monarchs to just one shot that did not threaten the frame.
The Monarchs got their other shot attempt extremely early in the second half, with Cardoso-Rodriguez lobbing one directly into the waiting arms of Franken from the top of the 18’. But not long after, the Quakers would finally break the ice.
Off a defensive play, Berry launched a clear down the right wing that Anderson chased down around the top-right corner of the 18’. She maneuvered against the defender, getting into the box, got space by making the Monarch stumble on a shot-fake, got another step in, switched feet, and went to the weak side of the net with her right foot to beat the keeper for her seventh goal of the season in the 54th minute.
Guilford added insurance in the 82nd minute. On an attack trying to catch up to a through ball from Anderson, Isabella Irizarry (Waxhaw, N.C.) got tangled up with Isabelle Fraher, drawing a card on the EMU defender, and granting Guilford a free kick from a really good spot, straight away just beyond the 18’. Berry stepped up to take it, and went for it all from about 21 yards out, going to the bottom-left for her first goal of the year, bringing the final score to 2-0.
Guilford returns to their home turf to host Randolph College next on Wednesday, October 16th. First kick is set for 4 PM.
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Men’s Soccer Falls in Physical Contest Against Randolph-Macon
Quakers first ODAC win remains elusive despite another strong defensive showing
from Angel Maldonado, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
ASHLAND, Va. – The Guilford College men’s soccer team traveled to the R-MC Grass Soccer Field on Saturday Afternoon, facing Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opponent Randolph-Macon College, falling in a narrow match by a score of 1-0.
The Quakers dropped to 3-9-0 overall and 0-6 in ODAC play with the loss, while the Yellow Jackets, currently seventh in the conference, improved to 7-4-2 overall and 2-3-1 in ODAC competition.
Chris Kelley (Lexington, N.C.) got the start in goal for Guilford securing eight saves against one goal allowed among the nine shots he faced, falling to 2-8-0 in net. Adam Braithwaite improved to 7-4-2 for Randolph-Macon, making two saves among the six Quaker shot attempts.
Chris Hercules (Greensboro, N.C.) and Jake Carter (Madison, N.C.) led Guilford offensively, each tallying two shots, with both of Hercules’ attempts being on target. Dani Santos (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Alex Harrison (Greensboro, N.C.) also contributed with one shot attempt apiece. Chazz Jones secured the only goal of the match, assisted by teammate, Wiley Eubank.
The match opened with aggressive play from both sides, leading to an early exchange of fouls as both teams sought to establish control. R-MC registered the first shot of the game with a low-centered attempt that was comfortably saved by Kelley. Minutes later, the Yellow Jackets threatened again, but Kelley made a diving save to his left to keep the score level.
At the 17th minute, Guilford had their first opportunity on goal, with a shot attempt by Carter, who missed it wide left, counting for the first of his two shot attempts during the contest.
After a pair of free kicks and offsides given to both clubs, Guilford earned a corner kick. Sent into the box, Hercules connected a shot to the lower-left side of the goal, but was rejected by Braithwhite, securing his first shot of the game.
The first half ended in a scoreless draw, with Randolph-Macon edging Guilford in shots, 7-5. Kelley tallied three saves, while Braithwaite made two for the Yellow Jackets.
In the second half, R-MC dominated possession, outshooting Guilford 15-1. The Quaker defense worked hard to maintain their clean sheet, but the deadlock was broken in the 65th minute when Chazz Jones, assisted by Wiley Eubank, scored the game’s only goal.
The match was physical throughout, with 29 total fouls and eight yellow cards issued between the two teams, making for a busy day for the officials.
Guilford looks to secure their first ODAC win as they host Ferrum College at Appenzeller Field, on Wednesday, October 16. Start time is set for 7 PM.
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Cross Country Contends in Livingstone XC Challenge
Men’s contributions help factor into team rankings
from Reagan Hune, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
SALISBURY, N.C. – The men and women’s cross country teams from Guilford College ran in the Livingstone XC Challenge, hosted by Livingstone, on Friday morning. The women’s team did not place in this meet to receive a team score, while the men’s team finished fifth overall in the meet.
Trenton Torain (Durham, N.C.) was the top Quaker finisher in the men’s division. In the 8K men’s course, he finished in 15th place with a timing of 32:28.1. Jeremy Harway (Apex, N.C.) finished six places behind Torain in 21st place with a time of 34:21.8. With a time of 34:37.0, Alex Nunes-Palomares finished in 23rd place. JC Yañez (Thomasville, N.C.) finished with a time of 39:15.8 placing 31st while teammate Jerome Moore (Mount Olive, N.C.) placed 34th place and finished at 40:13.3.
Guilford’s highest finisher, Piper Campbell (Wilmington, N.C.), finished the women’s 5K event with a PR in 21:31.8, hitting 5th place overall. Natalie Viera (Winston-Salem, N.C.) placed five spots behind her teammate in 10th with a time of 22:24.3.
Cross country returns to Elon University, Friday October 18th, to race in the Elon Phoenix XC Invitational. Start time and meet details have yet to be released.
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