LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The Golden Eagles soccer team opened the scoring on Wednesday evening, but Clarion ultimately dropped a 2-1 decision to Lock Haven on the road.
Leah Deal gave the Golden Eagles the early breakthrough in the fourth minute, scoring off
Carmella Simco's assist after she had already put a shot off the left woodwork at 2:22. After the Bald Eagles committed a turnover in their own end, Simco took the ball and pushed it toward the middle to Deal, who struck a low shot on the ground to the lower left corner for her fourth tally of the season.
Sage Sherk helped protect the early advantage with a save on Bryn Constanzer before the goal, and Simco later put another shot on frame that Devon Mason saved at 8:12. The Bald Eagles answered when Maci Shaffer scored from Colleen Lloyd in the 13th minute, then moved ahead 2-1 on Lily O'Brien's goal from Lloyd in the 21st. The Golden Eagles faced additional Bald Eagles pressure from there, with Sherk adding saves in the 16th and 28th minutes, and Deal forced another Mason save at 35:37 before the Golden Eagles went into halftime trailing 2-1.
The Golden Eagles kept the Bald Eagles scoreless throughout the second half but could not find the tying goal in a 2-1 final. The Bald Eagles generated an early chance when
Kailee George put a shot on goal in the 50th minute, and the Golden Eagles followed with a corner kick at 51:42.
Sage Sherk made saves in the 58th and 74th minutes, including a stop on Riley Egresits during a stretch in which the Golden Eagles protected the 2-1 scoreline while the Bald Eagles created pressure. The half also included a physical run of fouls and cards, with the Golden Eagles playing through cautions to
Nadia Gill,
Sofia Barba,
Reise Klein and the team before
Sofia Barba forced another save in the 81st minute.
