MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's soccer team fell behind early Friday (Sept. 11) afternoon and could not recover, as visiting Mount St. Joseph defeated the Pioneers 3-1 in non-conference action at Marietta Field. [Box Score]

Mount St. Joseph (2-2) quickly jumped ahead 2-0 with goals in the 7th and 9th minutes. Jessica Pykosz scored the first goal with a shot into the box from the far right side of the field, which caromed off the outstretched hands of Marietta's keeper and into the back of the net. Jessica Smith set up the second goal on a corner kick when she found teammate Ann Marie Middendorf open at the top of the box, and Middendorf headed the ball past the keeper for the score.

Marietta (2-2) fought back within a goal in the 19th minute. Sophomore Cara Nuss (Dayton, Carroll) sent a corner kick curving into the box. The Lions keeper got her hands on the ball but her momentum carried her over the goal line for the score. The goal was Nuss's third of the fall.

Mount St. Joseph extended its lead back to two goals in the 49th minute when Ashley Maynard sent a ball forward to Pykosz at the top of the box. Pykosz turned and beat the Pioneer keeper with a quick shot inside the far post for her second goal of the game.

The Lions dominated the shot chart, out shooting the Pioneers 22-8, including 13-4 in shots on goal.

Marietta senior Jenna Freeman (Bay Village, Bay) faced 19 shots and made eight saves before leaving the game with an injury late in the second half. Freshman Kelly Sommers (Shaker Heights, Shaker Heights) replaced her for the final 22 minutes and made 2 saves. Mount St. Joseph keeper Kayla Ziegler had 3 saves in the victory.

Marietta is back in action on Sunday (Sept. 13) afternoon when the Pioneers visit Thomas More College for a non-conference match-up at 1 p.m.