PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The 21st-ranked Fairmont State women's soccer team (12-0-2, 10-0-2) defeated Point Park (9-4-1, 9-2-1) 1-0 on Wednesday at F.N.B. Stadium. The Falcons finished with advantages of 15-10 in shots and 6-4 in shots on goal, while their goalkeeper made four saves over 90 minutes.
The Falcons' clearest first-half push came from 18:50 to 25:40, when they took six shots with the score 0-0, including saved attempts by
Valentina Gianinetto,
Arrington Sparks and Gianinetto again. Earlier,
Serenity Thomas sent a shot high in the 15th minute, and
Olivia Johnston kept the Pioneers off the board with a save on Rebecca Pihlgren's shot at 16:42.
The Pioneers put two later shots over the goal, while the Falcons added the half's only corner kick at 41:38 during a closing stretch that included several fouls. The Falcons finished the half with a 7-3 shot advantage, but the teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
In the second half, the Falcons built pressure with corner kicks in the 49th and 52nd minutes and shots from Thomas, Gianinetto,
Sam Yuen and
Braylyn Sparks before the breakthrough. In the 60th minute,
Ava Yannucci found
Stephanie Pedias who then scored to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the second half.
Sparks put another shot on frame in the 61st minute, but the Pioneers pushed back with a corner and several chances over the final 20 minutes. Johnston made saves in the 74th, 81st and 85th minutes as the Falcons kept the Pioneers off the board and closed out the 1-0 win.
Pedias scored the Falcons' goal, recording the game-winner on her lone shot.
Ava Yannucci added an assist for one point. Gianinetto led the Falcons with five shots and put two on goal. Johnston played all 90 minutes in goal, made four saves and finished with a shutout.
Fairmont State returns to Duvall-Rosier Field on Sunday, October 18 to face Wheeling University on Senior Day. Match time is set for 1:00 p.m.
