(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson women's soccer team weathered heavy first half pressure before striking back with an early second half goal to defeat Gwynedd Mercy on Monday afternoon. The Griffins opened up the contest by holding the Phoenix off the shot chart in the first half, but the Blue and White were able to regroup and control the tempo after scoring the lone goal in the 50th minute.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 1, Gwynedd Mercy 0
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 1-0-1, Gwynedd Mercy 1-1-0
How It Happened
- The Griffins got a hot start out of the gate and tested Phoenix netminder Madison Ebersole (So., Big Pool, Md. / Clear Springs) early with six shots in the opening 15 minutes. Three of them required saves which the sophomore keeper was able to cleanly provide to keep the game scoreless.
- While the Wilson defense was able to limit GMU's chances, the visitors were still able to get off four more shots in the period. Ebersole came up big twice more, once in the 25th minute and another in the 38th, to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
- At the start of the second, it appeared that it might be more of the same as Ebersole was called upon again just 56 seconds in. Gwynedd Mercy looked set up for another look four minutes later, but Wilson was able to obtain possession and set up an impressive counterattack. It resulted in Breanna Oliviero (FY, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) sending a pass up the middle to a waiting Halley Shaffer (Sr., Sunbury, Pa. / Line Mountain) who was able to be the center back to the right side of the box. Shaffer followed with a swift right foot to boot the ball by the Griffins keeper to the lower left corner for the score.
- Both teams equally exchanged four shots over the next eight minutes. Ebersole provided another pair of saves while Brynn Spangenberger (So., Chester Springs, Pa. / Owen J. Roberts) and Shafer just missed the cage. Shaffer had another attempt in the 62nd minute while Karen Cutler (Jr., Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill) added another excellent chance with a hard shot near the top of the box that was saved by the Griffins goalie.
- Down the stretch the Phoenix attack started putting more pressure on the Griffins' back line. Four shots came in the final 11 minutes and saw takes by Olivero, Zoie Echols (So., Harrisburg, Pa.), and Atiya Jackson (Jr., Brunswick, Md. / Brunswick / Shippensburg) just miss on icing the game. The Griffins still managed two shots in the final five minutes, but Ebersole made another stop in the 87th and another shot went wide right in the 88th.
Inside The Numbers
- Shaffer's goal was her third of the young season. The all-time goals and points leader in program history now has 55 goals and 118 points, respectively. She led the team with four of the 10 shots.
- Oliviero's helper was her first point of her collegiate career.
- Ebersole was excellent in goal as she went the distance and hit double-digits with a career-high 10 saves.
- Although Wilson was outshot 10-0 in the first half, the Phoenix answered by outshooting the Griffins 10-7 in the second. Gwynedd Mercy held a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- Wilson held the advantage on corner kicks by a 6-4 margin.
Up Next
The Phoenix will have the rest of the week off and return to action at Neumann on Monday, September 8. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
