Gillette, Paige Lead Women's Soccer Past Mountain Lions in Road Victory

ATHENS, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team held off a late Concord comeback in their 2-1 road victory on Sunday afternoon.
 
CU held the majority of possession in the early minutes, though they couldn't generate anything until the eighth minute, when their first effort was blocked. Four minutes later, FSU was able to get into an attack, but only came to junior Jayme Sooy sending a shot wide. Shortly after, the Mountain Lions had a great chance to score on a breakaway down the right side, but senior Katie Sterne stood tall in goal to keep the ball out.
 
After a free kick from senior Mei Homman was caught by keeper Maddie Loughborough, neither team generated many chances over the next 20 minutes. Inside 15 until the half, freshman Cassidy Paige made a surging run on the left wing, but couldn't put enough on her final product to get past Loughborough, who also saved on a left-footed shot from freshman Mollie Rebuck four minutes later. As the clock ticked down to the final five, junior Mary Greco took a short throw to classmate Carly Gillette, who found herself with space to move onto her left foot and fire a laser over Loughborough's head and into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
 
Neither side could find the mark to start the second half, as the first 20 minutes consisted of junior Morgan Mrizek firing high and three consecutive Concord shots either blocked or missing the target. With the Bobcats still protecting their lead, senior Mei Homman received the ball in her own half and dribbled across midfield, as the ball eventually went through the CU defense and was misread by Loughborough, gifting Paige an easy tap home for her first collegiate goal and a 2-0 lead.
 
The comfort didn't last very long, as just a minute later, the Mountain Lions swung a corner into the back post, where after a couple bounces in the box, an initial shot was cleared off the line before being headed home by Sydney Tucker to immediately pull within 2-1. In the final 10 minutes, Sterne made a save on a shot from deep, then two straight CU chances were put wide and high, keeping FSU in the lead.
 
Still trying to take seconds off the clock, Frostburg sent a long ball forward which was flicked on by freshman Amber Ignudo, as Rebuck started to bear down on goal. The ball was misplayed by the Concord back line, causing a few players to fall to the ground just outside the 18, where in the melee, CU's Olivia Bekeleski struck Ignudo and was sent off with a straight red, putting the Mountain Lions at 10 players for the final couple minutes. On the resulting free kick, Gillette could only put the ball over top the goal. Concord had one late chance to get the equalizer, as Tucker was played in on goal, but a fantastic challenge from senior Cat Smith sent the ball out for a throw, helping take the final seconds off for the 2-1 victory.
 
CU held a narrow 10-9 advantage in shots, though only three were on goal compared to the Bobcats' five.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 9-1-1 on the year, while the Mountain Lions fall to 5-5-1. FSU remains on the road to face West Virginia State on Wednesday, October 16 at 6 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostbugsports.com.