FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State defeated West Va. Wesleyan 4-1 on Wednesday at Duvall-Rosier Field. The Falcons netted three second-half goals to secure the victory, with a game-winning goal coming in the second half. Their defense held strong, allowing only one goal and making four saves throughout the match.
Early in the match, the Falcons applied pressure, highlighted by
Braylyn Sparks' shot at 15:22 which hit the top woodwork, narrowly missing the target. However, the Bobcats managed to score first with a goal from Mia Rodriguez in the 18th minute.
The Falcons responded promptly when
Valentina Gianinetto found the net in the 21st minute, assisted by
Filippa Stalhammar, leveling the score. Johnston contributed defensively with a key save against Isabella Mazza's shot in the 25th minute, maintaining the tied scoreline. The first half concluded with both teams locked at 1-1, setting the stage for a competitive second half.
The second half began with the Falcons swiftly taking the lead. In the 47th minute,
Dayra Dinarte found the net, putting the Falcons ahead 2-1. Just a few minutes later, Stalhammar capitalized with a goal assisted by
Agnes Bjork, making it 3-1 by the 52nd minute.
The Falcons maintained pressure, and despite a few missed opportunities, they continued to dominate the offensive play. Johnston's key saves thwarted the Bobcats' attempts to close the gap. The half concluded with
Kate Bertrand adding another goal in the 84th minute, solidifying a 4-1 victory for the Falcons.
Bertrand scored a goal on her only shot, contributing to the Falcons' offensive efforts. Stalhammar also tallied both a goal and an assist, maximizing her shot efficiency. Gianinetto found the back of the net with her single shot, adding to the team's scoring total. Dinarte secured the game-winning goal, converting one of her two shots on target. Johnston made four saves in goal, allowing just one score to maintain the lead for the Falcons.
Fairmont State (7-1-1, 5-1-1) makes the trek to Glenville State University on Sunday, October 12. Start time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
