WASHINGTON - Down but never out, the American University women's soccer team stormed back in thrilling fashion on Saturday, earning its first win of the season 2-1 over Army West Point in the Patriot League opener for both teams. Goals from senior
Phoebe Merrigan and junior
Bella Vozar in the final 13 minutes completed the comeback, with Vozar netting the game-winner in the 90th minute and sophomore goalkeeper
Addison Roemer anchoring the effort with a career-high 12 saves.
Notable
- Roemer made nine saves in the second half including four in the final 10 minutes on her way to a career-high 12 overall.
- The goal for Vozar was her first of the season and third of her career, while the goal for Merrigan was her first this season and second in her career.
- Merrigan later assisted on the game-winner by Vozar for her third assist this year.
- Army totaled 25 shots to AU's 13, with a 13-9 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Black Knights also posted seven corner kicks to the Eagles' three.
How it Happened
- The Black Knights took three of the game's first four shots and controlled the pace early on.
- In the final 15 minutes of the first half, the Eagles played much more aggressively and finished the half with a 4-3 edge in shots on goal.
- Merrigan had American's best chance of the first half with a long strike in the 34th minute that was saved by Army's Karalyn Dail.
- After an early and routine save for Roemer in the second half, it was nearly 20 minutes before she was tested again. After Roemer made three saves in a four-minute span from the 63rd minute to the 67th minute, Army's Sophia Henry got one past her on a header in the 68th minute for a 1-0 lead.
- Eight minutes later, graduate student Jennifer McGuire passed to the deep right side for senior Avery Klingensmith, who centered it perfectly for a charging McGuire to then put a body on it.
- Army's second-half keeper Kaitlyn Stake deflected the shot by McGuire, but couldn't get a handle on it, as Merrigan came storming in to put it in the back of the net.
- Roemer made four more saves in the following 12 minutes to preserve the 1-1 score.
- McGuire took a charge by Army's Payton Whitney in the final minute, leading to a yellow card for Whitney and a free kick for the Eagles.
- The kick from McGuire found Merrigan for a shot that was saved by a diving Stake, but once again the ball got away. Blocked by defenders, Merrigan tapped it over to an open Vozar who scored the game-winning goal with 44 seconds left.
- Army had one more chance on its offensive end, but the Black Knights were called offsides.
Up Next
- The Eagles play their first PL road game at Lafayette on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
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