PHILADELPHIA - Despite taking an early lead, American University women's soccer dropped its season opener, 2-1, to La Salle on Thursday evening at McCarthy Stadium. The Explorers scored twice in a 10-minute span during the second half to erase the Eagles' first-half advantage.
NotableÂ
- Senior Lauren Sanders got the Eagles on the board by converting on a penalty kick, scoring just the second goal of her career and first since 2024.
- Freshman Riley Molbury played all 90 minutes in goal in her first collegiate contest, stopping an impressive seven shots in her debut.
- Another freshman getting a starting nod in game one was Piper Garcia, who led the Eagles with two shots in the contest.
How it Happened
- With a save in the opening minute, Molbury made her presence known early and went on to collect four saves in the opening half with zero goals allowed.
- AU's first shot resulted in its goal, as Sanders put the penalty kick into the bottom left corner and out of reach of the outstretched hands of the Explorers' Samantha Widnick.
- Molbury made another save in the ninth minute, but her most impressive stop came in the 32nd.
- On a strong kick from the top of the box by La Salle's Justyce Hollenbach, Molbury punched the ball up and over the goal.
- After one more Molbury save in the 43rd minute, freshman Piper Garcia cleared a loose ball off the goal line in the final seconds of the first half after a La Salle free kick.
- Fifteen minutes into the second half, Taylor Jourdanais took a feed from Ella Cadigan on a corner for La Salle to even the score at 1-1.
- Molbury stopped another one before the go-ahead goal for the Explorers was scored in the 69th minute when Sienna Mount put the ball into the top right corner.
- The Eagles had chances in the 71st minute, but shots by juniors Nariah Goldman and Mia De Villegas-Decker were both blocked.
- Senior Bella Miller created some opportunities in the final minute, but was not able to get a shot off.
Up Next
- The Eagles will be back on the road for their second match of the season at UMBC on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.
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