Marietta MAR (3-6-1, 2-1-0)

John Carroll JCU (7-4-2, 3-0-0)

Marietta MAR

(3-6-1, 2-1-0)

Final

Oct. 08, 2022

John Carroll JCU

(7-4-2, 3-0-0)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Marietta MAR	0	0	0
John Carroll JCU	1	0	1

Summary
Box Score

John Cashman

The Blue Streaks are atop the OAC standings with a 3-0 mark.

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | 10/8/2022 9:28:00 PM | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Women's Soccer Surges to Top of the OAC with a Victory over Marietta

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The Ohio Athletic Conference slate is still young, but Saturday was a battle of the top two teams in the women's soccer conference standings with John Carroll and Marietta facing off.

The defensively sound, offensive-minded Blue Streaks emerged victorious over the Pioneers, 1-0, and as such, secured the top spot in the OAC standings.

"Starting off conference play with nine points is a lot," said starting goalkeeper Mackenzie Stease. "We're off to a great start. This is really good. I have no words. This feels amazing."

In addition, Saturday's match was a game of Family Feud for the Kontul's. On the John Carroll side, Juliana Kontul started at defender, while for Marietta's side, Angelene Kontul started at midfield. Juliana moved to 2-0 with JCU against her sister.

"This win means a lot," said Juliana with a smile. "It's really special that I got this last chance to play against my sister. It's nice to have something to rub in her face now."

Marietta tallied the first shot of the game in the sixth minute just wide. The Blue Streaks responded with a good-looking chance in the eighth minute, as Emily Patrzyk slotted a shot on net.

After pressuring the Pioneers for a time, the Blue Streaks broke through in the 25th minute.

From the left side, Grace Monnin approached the net. The veteran sent in a wily shot that hit the right post, forcing the keeper to dive in an attempt to stop it. The ball bounced perfectly to a ready-and-waiting Abby Smith, and the freshman from Bay left-footed the rebound perfectly on a lofting shot for a goal.

Smith's goal provided the Blue Streaks with the early advantage, which stood as the final margin.

"I saw Grace was in the corner, and she was either crossing it or shooting it. It ended up hitting the post and I was lucky enough to be there to put one in there for the team and help get the win," said Smith.

The Pioneers looked to respond, as the visitors came alive on offense with a shot off the crossbar in the 26th minute.

But the Pioneers' offensive efforts did not pay off, as the Blue Streaks' defense thwarted every chance that came their way. Smith and Patrzyk each got shots on net for the Blue Streaks, but nothing came of the chances.

John Carroll's 1-0 lead held heading into the break. JCU enjoyed a 13-5 lead in shots, including 6-0 in shots on goal.

In the opening minutes, the Blue Streaks' dominance on the ball continued. The ball stayed in the Marietta end for most of the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The Pioneers made a save on Patrzyk in the 52nd minute on a promising chance. Meredith Coloain then tabbed a shot and Patrzyk just missed on a shot high.

In the 55th minute, the Pioneers pressured up the middle of the field for the first time of the half, but Gabriella Walter stepped up. In a play that won't show up in the stat sheet, she stopped a Marietta chance and changed the momentum.

With possession once again, the Blue Streaks pressed onward. In the 57th minute, Alli Maliky forced the keeper to hop to make a save. The Blue & Gold kept firing up the offense in the hopes of getting an insurance goal. John Carroll got a couple of solid chances, but nothing came of the opportunities.

In the 82nd minute, Monnin tallied a shot on net, but the Pios were equal. Marietta tried a shot in the 84th minute, but the indomitable Mackenzie Stease came up with the stop.

"It feels amazing to be back on the field playing a full 90 minutes," said Stease, who got her first full-game shutout of the year and fourth of her career. "I couldn't have done it without the rest of my team. They really worked tonight and it was a great team win."

The Blue Streaks surge to 7-4-2 overall, including 3-0 in conference play.

The conference grind doesn't slow, as the Blue & Gold will head to Berea for a test against crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday.

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