KENNESAW, Ga. – In a near-identical plotline to the team's season-opening outcome three nights earlier, the Presbyterian College women's soccer squad was undone by sheer misfortune after a stellar first 45 minutes, this time taking a 1-0 loss against Kennesaw State in Georgia on Sunday evening.
Many close calls and almost-hits loomed over the Blue Hose in their second contest of an eight-match nonconference schedule, the recipient of a 45:30 chip-in by the Owls that ultimately spelled out the conclusion of the bout just breaths into the second period.
Presbyterian will look to regroup as they flip between home and away settings for the next four appearances, returning to Martin Stadium in five days' time versus Columbia International after a week-long absence competing from their own backyard.
FINAL SCORE: Kennesaw State, 1 – Presbyterian, 0
RECORDS: Presbyterian (0-2) – Kennesaw State (1-0-1)
LOCATION: Kennesaw, Ga.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Head coach
Brian Purcell's club again established the pace in the meeting's early stages, featuring a number of well-run sets despite coming away with a scoreless tie after 45 minutes.
- After starting keeper
Kelly Hall snared a long attempt from KSU after 10 minutes of play, sophomore
Ella Williams guided a close header to
Sarah Dieffenderfer at the 15:26 mark only for the ensuing shot to sail just shy of the target.
- Staying on the offensive end of the field for the majority of the first chapter, Dieffenderfer lofted a high ball to
Sloan Spees moments later that nearly put the Blue Hose in perfect position to strike first.
- With just over 13 minutes to go until the break, senior
Caitlin Murphy lined up a deep attempt that was halted by Kennesaw goalie Allanah Blye. PC finished the opening period with a pair of headstrong defensive sequences, avoiding a dangerous KSU corner kick with five minutes on the clock before Hall dove on top of a speedy Owl raid to keep them off the board with 3:47 left.
- Hall again thwarted a Kennesaw charge right out of the gates in half #2, although the Owls made good on their persistence by securing the game's only strike on a deflected cross that happened to take a friendly bounce for Aly Bryan.
- Second-year midfielder
Lindsey Malyszek produced one of Presbyterian's finest shots from long range at the 67:08 mark, while
Gwen Keiser followed suit with an equally-ambitious boot seven minutes later.
- With 13:51 remaining until the final horn,
Madison Hindman delivered a high pass over the top of KSU's back line into the launching area of
Victoria Brook, although the aim past Blye was unsuccessful.
- In total, the Blue Hose tallied 11 total shots in a duel that saw just four corners between the two sides. Twenty different players saw the field for Purcell's lineup.
UP NEXT
- The second of five matchups against a South Carolina adversary, Presbyterian will take on CIU this Friday for a 7:00 PM first touch in Clinton. PC has never faced off with the Rams since the school's D-I transition in 2007.
- The in-state affair will serve as Columbia International's 2023 opener against a Blue Hose unit still searching for its first check in the win column despite plenty of progress on both sides of the ball.
