FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The 20th-ranked Fairmont State women's soccer team (8-0-2, 6-0-2) defeated Shawnee State (1-6-2, 1-5-2) 2-0 Wednesday at Duvall-Rosier Field. The Falcons controlled the shot count 29-1, putting 12 attempts on goal while allowing only one shot on frame.
The Falcons broke through at 16:10, when
Arrington Sparks scored off a
Dayra Dinarte assist to open a 1-0 lead. Early in the first, the Falcons created repeated chances, with
Valentina Gianinetto taking four shots in the first 12 minutes and
Maria Day also forcing a save from Harlee Brand.
After the goal, the Falcons continued to press, generating five shots and four corner kicks between 21:07 and 30:57, including saved attempts by
Braylyn Sparks and Gianinetto.
Sam Yuen and
Stephanie Pedias added late shots on frame, and the Falcons finished the half with the 1-0 advantage.
Dinarte scored in the 72nd minute off a Gianinetto assist, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the second half. At the start of the second,
Olivia Johnston stopped the Bears' shot in the 47th minute, and the Falcons answered with sustained pressure, generating eight shots and three corner kicks from 49:04 to 58:38 while keeping the score at 1-0.
The Falcons continued to press with two more shots and another corner before Dinarte's goal, including a saved attempt from Pedias in the 63rd minute and a shot wide from Gianinetto in the 65th. After moving ahead 2-0, the Falcons added late chances from
Payton Parliament, Dinarte,
Addyson Nose and
Rania Hazri, plus an 85th-minute corner, and closed out the match with a 2-0 win.
Arrington Sparks scored the game-winning goal and put two of her three shots on frame. Dinarte finished with a goal and an assist for three points. Gianinetto recorded an assist and led the Falcons with six shots, including three on goal. Pedias added five shots and matched Gianinetto with three attempts on goal.
Fairmont State hits the road to face Glenville State University on Sunday, October 4. The match against the Pioneers is set to start at 2:00 p.m.
