EDINBORO, Pa. – The Clarion women's soccer team dropped a tight decision with one of the best teams in the nation, falling 2-1 on the road to 20th-ranked Edinboro in the season opener.  The Golden Eagles (0-1-0) will be back on the road on Saturday against IUP before returning to Clarion for their home opener next Wednesday.
 
Clarion trailed 2-0 after the first half of action, including a penalty kick scored by the Fighting Scots with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half.  The Golden Eagles changed tactics at the half, though, fighting Edinboro to a standstill and coming within a hair's breadth of sending the game to extra time.
 
"At halftime I moved Alissa Spencer to centermid, thinking we could spark something putting her with creative minds in Erin Rodgers and Charlotte Allen," explained head coach Sean Esterhuizen.  "We were then able to use our speed to get in behind them, which resulted in a huge change of tempo and momentum."
 
The change in tactic paid off in the 53rd minute, with Taylor Starr deflecting a perfect free kick from Marina Kelly past the Edinboro keeper to cut it to 2-1.  The Golden Eagles dominated play for the remainder, with Aaliyah Odom just missing the equalizer on a breakaway later in the half.
 
Freshman Meliah Roman also had an opportunity to tie the game, taking a diagonal through ball from Stephanie Lias and sliding it past the upright in the final minute of action.
 
"I thought the team played a magnificent second half, honestly," Esterhuizen said.  "We need to carry the momentum of that into our game against IUP on Saturday."