Women’s soccer: EMU earns big ODAC win over Guilford, 1-0

A first-half goal was enough, as EMU’s soccer women picked up a key 1-0 ODAC win against Guilford Saturday in Harrisonburg. The Royals move into a tie with GC for ninth in the league standings at 3-5.

Eastern Mennonite hosts Randolph College (4-5 ODAC) Tuesday night at 7:00pm in Harrisonburg, with the winner likely locking up a home game in the first round of the ODAC Tournament. Those first round games will be Monday, Oct. 31, with the quarterfinals getting underway the next Wednesday.

Saturday’s game had a late start from the 4:00pm scheduled time, as a miscommunication with the officials left them expecting a 7:00pm start. By the time all three could arrive, the actual first touch took place at 5:30pm, leaving both teams some adjustment to pre-game routines as well as more time for the temperatures to cool off on the already windy day.

EMU (7-8-1 / 3-5-0 ODAC) handled all of day’s uniqueness well, however, earning a pair of corners and two shots in the open six minutes. They controlled much of the play early on, finally breaking through in the 29th minute.

Midfielder Hannah Walker (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) rifled a beautiful long ball from outside the box, which GC keeper Cheyenne Grim just got a hand on. The ball then hit the cross bar and came straight out, with forward Laura Rittenhouse(Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) quickly pouncing on it for an easy tap in to the far side of the net. It was Rittenhouse’s 10th goal of the season, tied for third most in the ODAC.

Guilford (6-7-0 / 3-5-0 ODAC) responded to the score by going on the offensive. The Quakers took three corners and attempted seven shots over the final 13 minutes of the half, but Emily Young (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) made a pair of saves to keep the lead at 1-0.

The momentum continued into the second, where the visitors took four attempts, all on goal, over the first 12 minutes. Young was there each time, however, and EMU settled down after that. Guilford took just one more shot the rest of the way as the Royals earned their fifth shutout of the year.

Young finished with eight saves to tie her career high.

Each team took 14 shots in the game. Rittenhouse had four, including two on goal. Kylie Paul (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) stepped up to attempt two shots on goal.