CLARION, Pa. --- Kylee Cross scored in the 40
th minute and the Golden Eagle defense made the lead hold up, as
Alex Velez and company shut out Edinboro 1-0 at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night. Clarion extended their unbeaten streak to four games, improving to 2-0-2 in that span.
Velez posted her fifth shutout of the year and second in a row, tying her with Jenna Kulik and Laura Saussol for the most in a single season in program history. The junior goalkeeper turned away all three shots the Fighting Scots sent her way, including two in the second half. Her five shutouts are tied for sixth in the PSAC this season, and Velez is in the top-10 in the conference in saves per game and goals-against average this year.
Cross finally got off the schneid for the 2022 season, as the junior forward scored her first goal of the season thanks to a terrific ball-handling display by
Alexis Moyer. The Golden Eagle offense had been building toward a goal for much of the first half and finally got it in the 40
th minute, after Moyer carried the ball through traffic and beat several Fighting Scots to reach the top of the box.
From there, Moyer dished the ball left to Cross, who took a shot for the far right goalpost with her left foot. The low shot beat Kaylee Lauriel and gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
The momentum began to shift in Edinboro's favor late in the second half, with a number of corner kicks nearly allowing them to even up the score. One such opportunity came in the 79
th minute, when Clare Crossley headed a ball toward the upper right corner after a good lob in from the right corner. Velez was warm to the task, though, making the leaping grab to stop the attempt.
Marisa Colondrillo nearly added an insurance goal in the 89
th minute, but her attempt sailed wide. Edinboro did not threaten again, though, as Clarion held on for the win.
