Box Score DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Marietta College women's soccer team made debut of new head coach
Tracy Blasius a memorable one. The Pioneers defeated Defiance College by the score of 2-0 Friday (Aug. 30) afternoon in the first round of the Purple and Gold Classic. It was the season-opener for both teams.
"I'm very proud of our effort today," Blasius said. "It was a great team effort. (Kaitlyn) Pearse made some key saves in net and the early goal was great for our morale."
It took only two shots and less than five minutes for Marietta to get on the scoreboard. Senior defender
Stacey Smith (Cambridge/John Glenn ) chipped the ball over the head of the Yellow Jacket keeper for an unassisted goal with just 4:51 off the clock.
Defiance refused to go away quietly keeping the pressure on the Pioneer defense. Senior keeper
Kaitlyn Pearse (Galena/Olentangy Orange) answered the challenge with three saves in the first half and nine total in the match for the shutout.
The match was pretty even through the first 45 minutes. Both teams took six shots in the period and each keeper made three saves.
Marietta took control of the match in the second half doubling its shot attempts from the first period. The Pioneers launched 12 shots in the half including 10 on frame.
Midway through the period, senior midfielder
Emily Jones (Loudon, Tenn./Northville (Mich.)) took a pass on the right side of the 18-yard box and from junior
Stevie Reilly (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park Senior) and placed a beautiful shot inside the far post for a 2-0 Pioneer lead. It was the first game action for Reilly in over a year after missing last season due to injury.
For the match, Marietta took 18 shots to 12 for the Yellow Jackets. Pearse went the distance in net for the Pioneers and made nine saves, while Claire Turner had 12 saves for Defiance.
Marietta wraps up play in the classic on Saturday (Aug. 31) with a 1:00 p.m. match against Westminster College (Pa.). Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter.
