BUFFALO, NY–The Saint Peter's women's soccer team dropped its final road match of the season, 5-1, to Canisius Saturday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex.
Joana Dias netted her fifth goal of the season–a new career high–while
Stella Accettola recorded her team-leading fourth assist.
WHAT HAPPENED:
FIRST HALF
Canisius came out on the front foot, pressing the Saint Peter's back line of
Amanda Andreus, Macey Williams, Tuva Norell, and
Devin Reeves. The Golden Griffins tested the defense early, firing off two quality looks that forced
Emma Lopes into big saves. Off a free kick from 40 yards out, the ball dropped to Lizzy Harkness, who took a strike from the top of the key, but Lopes made a leaping stop to deny her. A few minutes later, Skylar Cornell broke free from the midfield, drove down the left side, and fired from the edge of the 18, but Lopes again punched it away.
Fifteen minutes in, the Peacocks nearly broke through.
Julia Pinho Magno saved a ball from going out on the touchline and laid it back to
Mayla McLean, who beat her defender and sent a cross to Dias. Dias' attempt forced the Canisius keeper off her line, but
Allyssia Merisier's follow-up effort went wide.
In the 29th minute, the Golden Griffins broke the stalemate when Cornell dribbled down the right side, firing off a shot from the edge of the box and floating it just over Lopes' fingertips to make it 1-0.
Saint Peter's had one more opportunity with just under 10 minutes left when Dias was fouled just outside the end of the box. Off the serve of Accettola,
Wilma Thodhlana came in with a flying header from the back post, but the attempt missed wide.
With under two minutes left in the half, Canisius doubled its lead off a corner from Jessica Whitaker, as the ball bounced around the six-yard box before Elizabeth Cavanaugh poked it home.
At halftime, Canisius led 5-2 in shots with a 5-0 edge on target and a 5-0 advantage in corners. Lopes made three saves in the opening frame.
SECOND HALF
Canisius opened the second half with immediate pressure, but it was Saint Peter's who found the net. Off a free kick from 40 yards out by Accettola, the ball one-hopped over the Canisius defense, and Dias volleyed it over the keeper to cut the deficit to 2-1 just five minutes in.
In the 57th minute, the Griffins restored their two-goal lead. Off another Whitaker service, Emilia Nuttall redirected a header past second-half keeper
Bergljot Kristinsdottir to make it 3-1.
Saint Peter's generated one of its best chances in the 63rd minute off a give-and-go between Dias and McLean. McLean fired from outside the box, forcing a stop from Chloe Tseros, but the rebound chance by Reeves was called back for offsides.
Canisius added two more in the final ten minutes to seal the result. In the 80th minute, Maggie Cregan's shot from inside the 18 that was initially saved by Kristinsdottir, but Azaria Fagan followed up the rebound. And in the final minute, Whitaker sent in a long cross from the right side where Jazmin Herrera was there to finish near post to close out the scoring at 5-1.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's returns home to Jaroschak Field for its season finale on Wednesday, October 29, hosting Sacred Heart at 3 p.m.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
