RIO GRANDE, Ohio – Women's soccer was undone by a goal with just over 14 minutes left in regulation against Rio Grande Saturday evening. The RedStorm (8-5, 4-2 MSC) had just recently broken the school record for wins in a single season and achieved another milestone of sorts as they topped the Bears (7-4-1, 1-4-1 MSC) for just the second time since the 2006 season. Carrie Mathes' goal off a rebound in the 76th minute was the difference in the match.
With the two teams tied with 12 totals shots and four shots on goal apiece midway through the second half, Rio Grande went on an offensive blitz in the closing minutes to capture the victory. Allison Keeney posted the shutout in goal for the RedStorm while Emily Kuehn finished with six saves as Rio Grande took a total of 19 shots in the game and put seven of those attempts on goal.
The RedStorm looked to be able to dictate the pace of the game early on as they took three of the first four shots in the contest but each of those attempts went wide. On SSU's next scoring attempt, Elizabeth Abbott would see the first shot on goal of the game get saved and send another attempt high just over 40 seconds later. Allison Nagle would have the Bears best early chance as she saw her first attempt saved and sent the rebound just wide of goal.
By the end of the opening half, Kenney was called on to make all four of her stops for the game while Kuehn also had a clean sheet at the half with a pair of saves. Kuehn also made two more saves in the opening six minutes of the second half to keep the RedStorm off the board for the time being.
In the 68th minute of play, Rio Grande again turned up the offensive pressure but Laurel Amstutz was denied by a crossbar as the teams played on in the scoreless game.
Rio Grande would finally break through first in the 76th minute off another RedStorm offensive surge. After sending a shot high, the hosts regained possession and Carli Heiman would see Kuehn save her initial attempt but Mathes, who sent the first shot high off, finished for the eventual game-winning goal. SSU's final shot of the game came with just over six minutes to play as Nagle's final shot attempt sailed wide of target.
For the game, the Bears finished with 14 total shots. Nagle led SSU with five shot attempts, putting one of those attempts on goal. Abbott was the only other SSU player to finish with multiple shot attempts as she had three takes with one attempt on goal.
Women's soccer will close a five-game road stretch next Tuesday, October 15 when they visit Ohio Christian in a 2 p.m. contest.
