Women’s soccer: Rittenhouse early goal enough to give EMU win

When you score in the first few minutes of a game, it may feel like a few more goals will follow. Despite that feeling, the inflated result did not come to fruition, although EMU’s soccer women made it stick for a 1-0 win over Notre Dame (Md.) Saturday afternoon in Harrisonburg.

The rejuvenated Royals are now 2-1-1, equaling their point-total from last fall, when they finished 2-15-1. After one day off, the women return to their Turf Field to host Hood College Monday night under the lights. Game time is 7:00pm.

On a hot and breezy day, EMU controlled the opening minutes against visiting Notre Dame. Ariel Barbosa (Baltimore, Md./Towson) put a shot on goal just 2:23 into play, and then set up a goal less than four minutes later.

Barbosa sent a fantastic through ball from midfield right up the middle, finding classmate Laura Rittenhouse (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite). The freshman forward split a pair of defenders to get to the ball before touching it past the keeper for a quick 1-0 lead. It was a needed breakthrough for the talented Rittenhouse, who had yet to find the net over three previous collegiate games.

The Royals had a few more chances in the first, but seemed more content to conserve energy for a concerted second-half push against the short-benched Gators.

That strategy nearly paid off quickly in the second. Less than two minutes in, Barbosa had a chance with a penalty kick, but Notre Dame’s Lilly Gordon stuffed the kick. Rittenhouse streaked forward on a breakaway in the 51st minute and had Gordon beat, but her shot bounced off the post.

The Gators had their best look in the 84th minute, but keeper Leah Wenger (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) stopped back-to-back attempts from a breakaway to preserve the shutout win.

Despite not hitting the net again after Rittenhouse’s early score, the Royals offense looked in sync and fulfilling their potential. EMU had a 17-8 shot edge and 9-3 margin in corner kicks. Emily Young (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) made a pair of saves in the first half, while Wenger made four stops in the second.

Rittenhouse had a game-high five shot attempts. She and Barbosa each put two on goal.