MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's soccer team gave up a second half goal and dropped a tough match to Mount St. Joseph University, 2-1, on Saturday (Sept. 20) afternoon. The loss puts the Pioneers to 3-2-3 on the season. Mount St. Joseph improves to 2-3-2 overall.

Although Marietta got an early shot attempt from Katie Heighbeger, both offenses were quiet through the first 10 minutes of the contest.  Pioneer goalkeeper Francesca Agliolo (San Gabriel, Calif./Mayfield Senior) made an easy save on a Lion shot attempt in the 6th minute to keep the game scoreless.  Mount St. Joseph had another scoring opportunity in the 15th minute as Preslee Rugg sent a shot towards the goal.  Agliolo was able to make the save, but May Anhofer took the rebound and hit the crossbar with her follow up shot, narrowly missing the score.  
 
After another Agliolo save in the next minute, the Pioneers quickly reversed the field and found themselves in scoring position.  Shelby Carr (Pataskala, Ohio/Liberty Christian Academy) took a great pass from Dilyn Hunley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) and sent a shot into the lower right portion of the net, giving Marietta a one-goal lead.   The advantage was short-lived, though, as four minutes later the Lions got on the board.   Anhofer sent a crossing pass from the left baseline into the box and Rachel Ginn finished it off, punching the shot into the net and tying the score. Both teams traded possessions for the remainder of the half with no goals scored and the game was tied 1-1 going into the intermission.
 
Mount St. Joseph had a scoring opportunity in the 66th minute as Anhofer sent a high-arcing shot from several yards out.  Agliolo had to jump and push the ball over the net, resulting in a Lion corner kick.  Marietta was able to clear out the ensuing play to keep the game deadlocked at one.  The tie was broken, though, in the 74th minute as Gabrielle Eagen sent a crossing pass into the box and Rikkie Chase headed it in to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.  Both teams fought back and forth for the remainder of the game but Marietta was not able to overcome the deficit.  The Lions won 2-1.
 
Agliolo worked the full 90 minutes and came up with four saves for the Pioneers

The Lions out shot Marietta 10-8 and held the advantage in shots on goal, 6-4. MSJ also held the advantage in corner kicks, taking five corners to three for the Pioneers.

Marietta's next contest will be on Wednesday (Sept. 24) when the Pioneers travel to battle the College of Wooster for a 5 p.m. kickoff.

Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.