OWENSBORO, Ky. — Playing much of the match a player down, the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's soccer team battled through adversity Thursday afternoon but fell 3-0 to Brescia University in River States Conference action.
The Pomeroys (2-12, 0-4 RSC) received a strong effort in goal from
Priscilla Barajas, who recorded nine saves after entering the match midway through the opening half.
Maliah Goins and
Riley Sabath led the SMWC offensive attack with two shots apiece, while
Ella Cox and
Lauren Gill each added an attempt.
SMWC generated an early scoring opportunity in the eighth minute when Goins fired a shot that was blocked by the Brescia defense.
The complexion of the match changed in the 22nd minute when starting goalkeeper
Cileen Saif received a red card, forcing the Pomeroys to play the remainder of the contest with 10 players. Saif had recorded a save on an Allana Colen Porto attempt in the 18th minute before exiting.
Barajas entered in relief and immediately faced pressure from the Bearcats. She turned away Nike Henschel in the 23rd minute before denying Ana Victorica less than two minutes later.
Brescia (6-4-4, 2-0-2 RSC) broke through in the 27th minute when Victorica finished a chance off an assist from Sydney Dunn to give the Bearcats a 1-0 advantage.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Pomeroys continued to compete defensively. Barajas made three additional saves before halftime, stopping attempts from Colen Porto and Evangalene Farfan, including a Farfan opportunity in the 36th minute.
SMWC nearly answered before the break when Cox placed a shot on goal in the 42nd minute, forcing Brescia goalkeeper Laura Thompson to make a save.
Lauren Tilley followed with a corner kick as the Pomeroys looked to capitalize on the late first-half pressure.
The Bearcats carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, holding a 10-2 advantage in shots.
SMWC came out looking to create opportunities in the second half.
Mira Atari delivered a corner kick in the 48th minute, and Gill sent an attempt just wide of the right post in the 52nd minute.
Brescia extended its lead with two goals in less than two minutes. Farfan scored in the 61st minute off an assist from Colen Porto before adding her second goal in the 62nd minute, this time on a feed from Henschel, to push the advantage to 3-0.
The Pomeroys continued to attack despite the deficit. Sabath had a shot blocked in the 67th minute, setting up a corner kick from Gill moments later. Goins followed with one of SMWC's best opportunities of the second half, putting an attempt on frame in the 69th minute that Thompson turned away.
Sabath created another opportunity in the 77th minute, sending a shot high as SMWC continued searching for a breakthrough.
Barajas helped keep Brescia off the scoreboard over the final 28 minutes. She denied a header from Victorica in the 78th minute before making three saves in the final five minutes, including stops on consecutive Farfan attempts and a late effort from Lilly Armour.
The Pomeroys finished with six shots, including two on goal, while Brescia recorded 19 attempts and placed 13 on target. Barajas finished with nine saves in 68 minutes of action, while Saif added one save before departing.
Goins and Sabath accounted for four of SMWC's six shots, with Goins and Cox registering the Pomeroys' two shots on goal.
Up Next
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods returns to McMahon Field on
Sunday, Oct. 18, when the Pomeroys host Midway University in River States Conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
