CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle soccer team was victorious in their final game of the 2023 season, beating Pitt-Johnstown 1-0 at Memorial Stadium on Friday night. Clarion picked up their first shutout win of the season in the process, holding their opponent without a goal for the first time since a scoreless draw against Ursuline in the season opener.
 
The Golden Eagle defense played perhaps their best game of the season, limiting the Mountain Cats to just four shots on goal and very few dangerous chances. Goalkeeper Alex Velez got the start and pitched a shutout for the first 70 minutes, but the senior was felled by an apparent injury late and was replaced by Sage Sherk for the final 20 minutes. Sherk did her part to preserve the shutout, stopping the only two shots she faced.
 
The win came as a byproduct of Kylee Cross's third goal of the season, with the senior filling the net in the final home game of her career. Ciara DiMauro carried the ball up through the middle of the offensive side of the field and collided with a Mountain Cat defender, with the ball kicking over to Cross. Cross shot from distance with her right foot, beating goalkeeper Megan Giesey for the goal.
 
With the tally, Cross reached 31 total points in her career, moving her into sole possession of second place on the program's all-time scoring list. She also tied for third on the program's career goal-scoring list, with her 10^th goal of her career.
 
The two sides traded turns dominating the possession, with the Golden Eagles holding the ball and pushing on net for most of the first half and the Mountain Cats enjoying a flurry early in the second. Emily Mannion had a couple chances for the Golden Eagles early in the game, including a shot she ripped from just outside the box that Giesey was able to pull in for the save. The Golden Eagles kept action in UPJ's end to the tune of seven first half corner kicks but could not quite crack the Mountain Cat defense.
 
UPJ had their best offensive opportunities in the start of the second half, with Haley Neidig peppering the net with shots in the first 15 minutes of play. DiMauro almost broke the scoreless tie herself in the 66^th minute, but her booming shot went high and cleared the net.
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