Shotton Score Supports Franken Shutout, Women’s Soccer Holds Off Shenandoah
Franken extends streak of clean sheets to career-best five games
from Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
GREENSBORO, N.C. – In a critical Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup, Jenna Shotton (Walnut Cove, N.C.) came up clutch, netting her first in-conference goal of the season in the 58th minute to lift the Guilford College women’s soccer team past Shenandoah University, 1-0, at Appenzeller Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Quakers have now secured their fifth-straight point in league play, improving to 4-1-1 and 10-2-2 overall. The Hornets drop their fourth matchup in their last five matchups against GC, falling to .500 this fall at 7-7-2, 2-3-1 against ODAC opponents.
Ady Franken (Peoria, Ill.) still has not surrendered a goal in the month of October, recording her fifth-straight clean sheet, the longest streak of such performances in her career. She made ten saves to keep SU off the board, her second-most in a single game this season, and the most in a winning effort, improving to 9-2-2. Kasie Kilmer performed well, making three saves, but allowed the lone goal, falling to 7-7-2.
In a physical and, at times, chippy contest, the guests outshot the Quakers, 21-7, and 10-4 in looks on target while also receiving six of the seven corner kicks in the match. However, it was Guilford who took advantage of their chances, with Shotton finding the back of the net for the first time since her multi-score effort against Greensboro College, assisted by Grace Overton (Apex, N.C.), who also notched her first point in league play. Kylee Berry (Kernersville, N.C.) led the hosts in shots on the day with two, both of them on target. Lily Brown (Boone, N.C.) also got a look on frame. McKenna Newcome paced the Hornets with six shots, albeit only one on goal. Alexis Andrews finished with two shots, both of which threatened the twine.
While it did not show in the shot totals, with SU holding an 11-3 edge, the first half was extremely balanced with both sides possessing the ball a roughly even amount. The visitors found some good looks, connecting on a handful of rockets, but the ball was finding the awaiting arms of Franken. They did not lack chances, receiving multiple free kicks in good locations and running some effective set pieces, but just could not cash in.
The Quakers would end up with the top scoring opportunity of the opening 45. In the 32nd minute, they drew a foul and received a free kick just to the left of the 18’. Berry came all the way up to take the kick and went to the back post, but Kilmer was able to leap and slap it wide. The sequence would continue, however, with GC getting their first, and ultimately only corner of the match, Ashlyn Kahre (Fort Mill, S.C.) sent a ball into the box that was turned away, but she got another chance off the deflection, sending a beautiful ball across and finding the head of Berry on the weak side, although Kilmer was able to get across the frame and catch it clean.
In the second half, the high-caliber of soccer from both teams continued, before Guilford finally broke through in the 58th minute. The hosts secured the ball in the midfield, before utilizing a pass back to settle in and organize their attack. Berry distributed a cross-pitch pass to Shotton in front of the Quaker bench with the junior getting a turn and making a move to get a step on her defender, navigating to beyond the ’18 on the right wing. Her initial left-footed shot was blocked by the defender but recovered by Overton. She got the ball back to Shotton who switched her feet, getting to her strong-side, near the top-right corner of the 18’, and rifled a shot just below the bar and into the twine for her first goal in about a month-and-a-half, and one that would prove to be her third game-winner of the season.
Shenandoah picked up the intensity down the stretch, continuing to challenge Franken with power, but not accuracy, with the graduate student safely securing five shots in the stanza with care, completing her ninth individual shutout of the season, and the 1-0 win.
The Quakers hit the road for a big one next, heading up to Virginia Beach to battle perennial conference power, Virginia Wesleyan University on Wednesday, October 23rd. First kick against the Marlins is set for 5:00 PM.
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