WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's soccer team began the 2022-23 athletic year in front of the Crusader faithful playing nonconference opponent Iona to a 0-0 draw Thursday evening at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium.
The tie sends the Crusaders to 0-0-1 and the Gaels to 0-0-1 through the opening game for each program. Holy Cross played Iona tough, especially in the first half where the Crusaders held their counterparts to only two shot attempts.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- 13 minutes into the game, the Crusaders were on the counter attack which led to a free kick chance for junior Francesca Ciatto. Ciatto lofted the ball into the box and was turned away by Gael goalkeeper Emma Havrilla.
- Around the 20 minute mark, Iona's Kedarjah Lewis was streaking down the pitch and had a one on one chance with the Crusaders' netminder, sophomore Olivia Dubin. Junior midfielder Cerys Balmer came out of nowhere to slide tackle the ball out of play. Iona was awarded two straight corner kicks that were thwarted by the Crusaders suffocating defense.
- With three minutes remaining until halftime, junior Allie Raynor almost broke the deadlock but her shot attempt was wide left of the cage.
- 1:31 into the new stanza, senior Melanie Lytle had an open net chance on the right side, but her shot attempt swerved just left of the far post.
- At the 52nd minute Iona's Victoria Mule fired the ball in front of the net, however Balmer again made a solid defensive play to keep the score level.
- Holy Cross was awarded a free kick in the 73rd minute. Senior Shelley Blumsack took the chance and passed off the ball to junior Sydney Baldwin and her shot attempt was blocked.
- Two massive team saves by the Crusaders in the 81st helped preserve an onslaught of three shot attempts in a 26 second span.
OUTSIDE THE BOX:
- The Crusaders outshot Iona 12-to-9 in the game. Last season the Crusaders outshot opponents in only two of their 17 contests.
- Dubin made three saves to give her 100 in her collegiate career.
- Holy Cross held possession for 54% of the match.
- Iona is 1-7-2 against Holy Cross in the series with their lone win coming on September 14, 2004.
HIGHLIGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross hits the road to take on Siena (0-1-0), Sunday, August 21 at 1 p.m.
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