The EMU soccer women struck quickly and made it stick in their 2018 season opener, claiming a 1-0 road win at Marymount University on Friday.
The Royals stay in northern Virginia and play in Arlington again tomorrow, getting North Carolina Wesleyan at 1:30pm at Long Bridge Park.
Friday’s goal came early, as Eastern Mennonite hit the net on their first scoring opportunity of the year. On a corner kick in the ninth minute, freshman Chloe Weaver (Linville, Va./Broadway) nearly put one in from the weak side but a Marymount defender knocked the ball away. The clear went right back into traffic, where Rachel Sauder (Lyndhurst, Va./Stuarts Draft) made a quick left-footed shot to make it 1-0.
The Saints missed a chance at equalizing in the 52nd minute, putting a shot off the cross bar. Laura Rittenhouse (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) nearly put the game away late, but her attempt in the 82nd bounced out off the post.
EMU’s defense continued to smother Marymount’s attack, as only two of MU’s shots were on goal. Keeper Leah Wenger (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) knocked both away for a pair of saves. The Royals finished with a 12-10 shot advantage, including 5-2 on goal.
Rittenhouse put two of her three attempts on mark, while freshman Hannah York (Richmond, Va./John Randolph Tucker) added three shots.
This is the fourth straight year EMU has opened against Marymount. The Royals have picked up either a win or tie each of the last three years.
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