(ALLENTOWN, Pa.) – Maddy Miller (So., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) scored in the 38th minute and the defense was able to do the rest as Wilson defeated Cedar Crest in the regular season finale on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. It was the 11th clean sheet of the season for the Phoenix who had already clinched a first round bye in the upcoming United East Conference championship.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 1, Cedar Crest 0
Venue: The FalconPlex
Records: Wilson 14-4-1, 8-1-0 Skye; Cedar Crest 4-4-6, 4-1-4 Skye
How It Happened
- As had been the case in many prior games, Wilson didn't waste any time putting on the offensive pressure. Skylar Molnar (Jr., Shohola, Pa. / Delaware Valley) and Katie Riley (Sr., Mt. Airy, Md. / Urbana) both had shots in the opening 2:25, but both were saved by the Falcons' keeper.
- Cedar Crest was able to counter with a Linsey Nester shot in the following minute, but it saild wide right. Rebecca Marakovitz (Jr., New Market, Md. / Linganore) was needed for the next shot as the Falcons' Olivia Kelly had a shot on target just inside the 11th minute.
- The Phoenix finally lit up the scoreboard late in the first half when Miller took a pass and fired from the left corner of the box. Falcons keeper Bella Bozen was able to get a piece of it, but it bounced just past the goal line for the score in the 38th minute.
- Wilson remained on the offensive at the start of the second half with five shots across the opening 20 minutes. Midway through the frame teams exchanged four shots, but Bozen stopped both of Wilson's chances while Marakovitz made her second and final save of the day as Cedar Crest was held without a shot for the final 16 minutes.
Inside The Numbers
- Miller's goal was her fifth of the season and first since finding the back of the net in a win against Notre Dame earlier this month.
- Marakovitz went the distance once again for her sixth blanking of the season. She made two saves on just four shots faced as the back line limited the Falcons' shots most of the day.
- The Blue and White quadrupled the Falcons' shot total 16-4 with a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Corner kicks were a bit more even with the Phoenix on top in that category as well by a 5-3 count.
- Not only was it the first defeat for Cedar Crest in the divisional play, but it was the first victory over the Falcons in series history for the Phoenix. Wilson was 0-6-1 all-time against Cedar Crest entering today.
- In fact, Miller's goal is just the second for Wilson in the series. The only other time the Phoenix has scored against the Falcons came in 2021 when Chloe Antalek scored on a Simone Karustis assist in a 2-1 overtime defeat.
- With the regular season now complete, the 14-4-1 record officially goes in the record book as the best regular season in program history.
Up Next
The postseason awaits for the Phoenix with their next contest coming in the Skye Division semifinals on Halloween Tuesday. Their opponent will be decided in the divisional first round on Saturday.
