GREENSBORO, N.C. – Laying out to her right,
Ady Franken (Peoria, Ill.) sent back a penalty kick attempt by Lyric Birkley, scrambled to her feet and recovered the loose ball, keeping the match scoreless for the Guilford College women's soccer team in the 64
th minute, and that is where the tallies would remain, coming to a 0-0 result against Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) foe, Bridgewater College on Saturday evening at Appenzeller Field.
In a rematch of the ODAC Tournament Quarterfinals match from last November, that also ended in a draw, albeit with the Eagles advancing on PK's, this contest finished in the same result with GC moving to 6-2-2 on the year, and picking up their first point in the conference standings at 0-1-1. The guests, meanwhile, take their third breakeven result of the campaign at 3-4-3 overall, and also grab a point in league play at 0-1-1.
Franken contributed not just a banner moment, but another banner performance in her collegiate career, completing her fifth shutout of the season, and 22
nd of her career to go to 5-2-2 on the year after making six saves on 11 total shots faced. Rylee Asiello matched Franken's efforts making the two saves she had to on GC's four shot attempts to move to 2-1-2.
Both of the Quakers' looks on frame came off the foot of
Kylee Berry (Kernersville, N.C.) with
Naomi Anderson (Youngsville, N.C.) and
Mya Rivera (Parish, Fla.) also attempting a shot each. Birkley had one other shot that was on frame in the match for BC, finishing with two shots on goal. Skyler Daum led all players with three looks at the net, but only one threatened the twine.
Controlling possession early, Guilford got the matches' first scoring chance when Rivera drew a foul from Katherine King in the sixth minute, granting the home team a free kick from a few inches beyond 25 yardline on the left wing. Berry took the attempt and got good look around the Eagles' wall, but Asiello laid out to her right to deter the attempt.
The Quakers had another wonderful chance nine minutes later with GC getting their first corner of the contest.
Jenna Shotton (Walnut Cove, N.C.) placed the ball right where she wanted, finding the head of Anderson who redirected it towards the net with Asiello merely serving as a spectator. Unfortunately, the opportunity stayed just high, hitting off the crossbar to keep the match scoreless.
Bridgewater got a great chance in the 33
rd minute of play. An
Ashlyn Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) foul within 18 yards, but to the side of the box gave the guests a free kick from prime positioning with options. The set piece went to King on the weak side, who used her head to send a look on frame, but Franken secured it with ease.
The Eagles outshot Guilford 7-2 in the first half of play, including 5-1 in shots on goal, but it was the Quakers who received more corners 3-2. In any case, neither side could break the stalemate in the opening stanza.
Just over four minutes into the second half, the home team got a nice buildup resulting in an Anderson shot attempt, albeit from a tough angle, that was deterred. This set the stage for Franken's heroic effort.
On an attack down the left wing, Laura Narby took a shot from near the corner of the 18', with the ball getting up and off the hand of a twisting
Mya Jarvis (Clemmons, N.C.) who got called for a handball in the box despite her best efforts to avoid it. The guests called upon Birkley for the one-on-one look and she tried to go bottom-right, but Franken guessed correctly keeping the game tied.
The PK was just the second of two combined shots on goal by the two squads in second half of play, and while BC held the edge in attempts, 4-2, in the frame, the score still finalized at a 0-0 score.
Now fully into league play, Guilford next makes a trip up to Ferrum College for an ODAC clash on Wednesday, October 9
th. First kick is set for 4 PM.
#GoQuakes
