GREEN BAY,
Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Despite
a late second-half charge and a game-high five shots from freshman Hannah Kernen (Belleville, Wis.), the
Green Bay women's soccer team (3-9-2, 1-3-1) dropped a tough 1-0 decision to Wright
State (6-6-2, 1-2-1) Sunday afternoon in a Horizon League match at Santaga
Stadium.
Kernen nearly sent the contest into overtime with just
over a minute to play when she fired a shot from close range on the left side,
but WSU goalkeeper Brooke McCurdy slid over to make one of her four saves on
the afternoon and secure the victory for the Raiders.
"We knew it would be a difficult game even though we
were at home," Phoenix head coach Trevor Warren said. "Wright State has always been one of the top teams in our
league, and they're a veteran team with a lot of great players, and I think
that kind of showed in the first half."
The Raiders controlled the opening period, maintaining
most of the possession and outshooting the Phoenix 5-2.
WSU scored the game's lone goal in the 19th minute
when senior forward Brittany Persaud converted on a free kick from just outside
the box following a Phoenix foul. Persaud launched the ball over Green Bay's
wall from straight on and beat senior goalkeeper Maddie Drusch (Appleton, Wis.) in the left side of the net.
The Phoenix was able to bounce back in the second half
and outshoot the opposition 6-4, but couldn't get past McCurdy, who picked up
her fourth shutout of the year. Kernen led all players with five shots in the contest,
including three shots on goal.
"Hannah is such a spark plug for us," Warren said. "We've
had to move her up with the injury to (sophomore forward) Hekla (Palmadottir),
but she's really our creative midfielder. She just makes these things happen
and maybe with a little bit more luck there at the end we get the chance to
send it to overtime."
The Raiders finished with a 9-8 edge in shots, but the
Phoenix held a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Drusch and freshman Katy Pilarzyk (Madison, Wis.) split time between the posts for the
Phoenix, playing 45 minutes apiece. Drusch made one save while allowing the one
goal in the first half. Pilarzyk was not forced to make a save in the final 45
minutes.
Green Bay is back in action on the road next Saturday,
facing Youngstown State at 12 p.m. CT in Youngstown, Ohio. The Phoenix then
returns to Santaga Stadium the following Sunday (Oct. 23) for its final regular
season home match of the year.
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Season tickets and Fall
Sports Passes are now on sale for women's soccer, as well as men's soccer and
volleyball. Season tickets for each sport are available for $25 each, or a Fall
Sports Pass can be purchased for admission to all three sports for just $50 for
an adult and $25 for a youth pass. For more information and an order form, click here.
