Women's Soccer defends home opener vs. Oakland City

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne University women's soccer finally got to play on their home turf as they hosted Oakland City University in their home opener tonight. The Griffins defeated the Lady Oaks 2-1 and improve to 5-4-1 on the season. The contest was the start of a five-game homestand as Fontbonne hosts MacMurray College Saturday, October 1 at 1 p.m.

Junior Meredith Wendt scored the first goal fo the contest in the 15th minute. The forward found the ball off a Lady Oaks defensive deflection when Savannah Davis threw the ball into the box. The Griffins scored several minutes later when Ellen Weaver sent the ball ahead up the middle for freshman Maddie Tague to chase down. Tague then scored the game-winner and her second goal of the season.

Leading 2-0 after just 20 minutes, the Griffins continued to pressure the Lady Oaks. Senior midfielder Natalie Sipole stole a pass from Oakland but her shot was saved. The Troy, Ill. native then booted the ball in the 38th minute high towards the goal that the Oakland City goalkeeper got a hand on. The suspenseful shot then deflected off the crossbar and landed behind the goalie which she ended up securing to eliminate the Griffins threat.

In the 30th minute, the Lady Oaks kicked a monster free kick from the opposite 45-yard line that landed inside the box, putting Tayler Pulvirenti to work. Oakland managed just two first-half shots to Fontbonne's 17. Barelyn Cargal saved eight in the first half alone.

In the 11th minute, the Griffins had their best chance of the night when Weaver crossed the ball to an open Tague right in front of the middle of the net. Tague's placement was high, preventing the third goal of the game.

Oakland's Kansas Carpenter's long free kick came down right in front of Pulvirenti in the 65th minute where Rachel Hanold was waiting. Hanold raised her leg and she slipped the ball past Pulvirenti to cut Fontbonne's lead to one.

Oakland's free kick from 25 yards was high in the 79th minute as they looked to try and force extra minutes.

Fontbonne's Weaver lofted a beautiful pass up the middle over Oakland's defenders as Wendt chased it down and lauched the ball in the right side of the goal. The Griffins' third goal came in the 84th minute when Daniele Caruso began the string of connections. She sent the ball from the near sideline to Weaver. Wendt now has five goals on the season.

Cargal made 18 saves in net for Oakland. Fontbonne outshot the Lady Oaks 33-5.