By David F. Pendrys

NEW HAVEN, CT – SCSU’s women’s soccer squad picked up their second win of the season in an unusual game vs. AIC where penalty kicks played a key role. A little over 20 minutes into the game Victoria Buonanni was awarded a penalty shot during a drive into the AIC zone. She lined it up and lightly kicked it to side of AIC’s Mikayla Demanche.

The game would go back and forth with both sides generating chances but very few high quality ones. A critical moment came int hes second half when AIC was given a penalty shot of their own. Anais Chareyron lined up for the Yellow Jackets and sent it in, but SCSU’s Gabrielle Arruda made the save to preserve the lead.

As the game progressed, AIC generated some more higher quality chances, but Arruda and the defense stood tall. Southern’s keeper made 8 saves on the day. Demanche made 4 herself. SCSU’s defenders did a great job of pushing AIC to the outside or clearing balls sent into the goal area. Nadine Hikert and Johanna Wahlen were noticeable in that pursuit. Marisa Grisell as a Midfielder had many clears herself as the ball headed up the field. Fellow Owls Amber Pindulic, Taylor Moore, Juliana Santos were noticeably thwarting AIC setups at various points of the field.

The defenders stepped in the rare times Arruda was drawn out of position by chaos around the net, including when AIC got in close, their attack was disrupted allowing Arruda the time to get back into place. Later Linnea Herbertsson did manage to split the Southern D and race in but the SCSU keeper challenged her head on and stopped the attack. Very late in the game AIC had another great chance as Federica Frew came down to the goal’s right, but her centering pass was blocked by Hikert to Arruda’s waiting hands. SCSU played most of the game without major offensive threat Alyssa Maldonado in the lineup as well.

Chareyron was a force on defense for the Yellow Jackets. A lot of early SCSU opportunities ended once she got involved. Kelly Koslosky had a variety of clears, especially late to remove pressure on her net. Paige Medeiros was noticed on both sides of the ball, both disrupting Southern passes and also moving the ball forward. Frew did what she could to be an offensive catalyst, sending corner kicks in on net, launching shots herself, and various centering tries.

Herbertsson led AIC with 4 shots (2 on goal), Jennifer Hackett’s three shots all went on net, Frew had 3 shots, Alanna Gracia 2, Molly Serra, Chareyon, and Medeiros all had 1 shot each but all went on the goal.

For SCSU, Buonanni had 4 shots, 2 on net to lead Southern. Wahlen, Kelly Lamb, and Rossella Graniero all had 1 shot on goal.

SCSU is now 2-7-1 and 2-4-1 in the Northeast 10. AIC drops to 3-4-1, and 2-3-1 in the NE10.

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