Eagles Drop Tough 1-0 Decision to River Hawks

HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata women's soccer team suffered a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Susquehanna, Wednesday evening at Gibbel Stadium. 

Seven minutes in, Emma Moreland (Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest) played a ball through the defense to a sprinting Brooke Rotheram (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East). She took a touch and fired a shot, but the River Hawk keeper managed to hold on to it.  

Five minutes later, Elizabeth Bentz (Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern) put a shot on frame, but again the keeper stopped the shot.  

In the 16^thminute, a River Hawk forward got the ball inside the Juniata eighteen and blasted a shot into the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead.  

Juniata went into the locker room down 1-0 as Susquehanna held a 6-2 edge in shots. The River Hawks had the lone corner kick in the half. 

Kristin Racis (Womelsdorf, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) had to make three saves in the first 15 minutes as Susquehanna ramped up the pressure. 

In the 64^thminute, Alexis Ulrich (Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area HS) played a ball in from the left wing into the box. The Susquehanna keeper pushed it away, and Talia Bertrando (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick High School) rushed towards the ball. She almost got a shot off, but the keeper dove on the ball right before she got her shot off. 

11 minutes later, Saraly Gonzalez (Somerdale, N.J. / Sterling High School) took a shot from 20 yards out that the Susquehanna keeper held on to. 

Three minutes from the end, Caroline Braas (Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township) fired a shot off a free kick from the 25 yards out that flew past the near post. 

"It was the best effort of the year thus far and a wonderful example of players putting the team before self," said head coach Scott McKenzie after the game. "We asked players to compete outside their comfort zone tonight and they did a great job. We now have another system to employ if needed. We grew as a team tonight and I couldn't be prouder of a group of student-athletes. " 

Juniata returns to action at Catholic, Saturday at 4:00.