JOLIET, Ill. - Behind the two goals of freshman
Katlyn Varney the Davenport women's soccer team earned their first win of the 2017 season. The Panthers dominated the Fighting Saints in almost every statistical category and found their groove offensively. Goalkeeper
Lorrin McCarty earned her first career win, in shutout fashion. Davenport will head into their next contest with a slightly boosted confidence after today's win.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-2 | St. Francis (Ill.)-0
Location: Joliet, Ill.
Records: Davenport 1-2-0 | St. Francis 2-1-1
SHOTS PER HALF (Shots on goal)
First Half: DU-10 | USF-0
Second Half: DU-10 | USF-4
Total: DU-20 (7) | USF-4 (2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport opened the first half extremely aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. The Panthers recorded four corner kicks and seven shots during the opening 17 minutes of play. Multiple shots
Alayna Hilgendorf were un-able to find the net between the 12 and 18-minute marks. After a couple substitutions during the 27
th minute DU was able to connect on a shot. The Fighting Saints turned the ball over in their own box, Varney got a foot on the ball to record her first career goal at DU and the team's first goal of the season. Defensively Davenport was perfect during the half, not allowing a single shot during 45 minutes and forced Saint Francis to an offside penalty during the 14
th minute.
The Fighting Saints made a couple offensive adjustments during halftime and recorded their first shot of the game in the 50
th minute; McCarty came up with the save. Davenport kept the pressure up offensively, tallying five shots on goal during the half. After a foul by DU in the box the Fighting Saints earned a penalty kick shot. McCarty was a great presence in the net as the opposing player shot the ball off the corner post and out of bounds. Shortly after Varney helped give the Panthers a 2-0 cushion with just under 10 minutes to play. After a ball was sent towards the box
Roheema Bennett headed the ball towards the middle of the box and Varney one timed the ball into the net. Davenport sustained their impenetrable defense for the remaining time to shut out Saint Francis (Ill.).
COACHES CORNER
"I am really pleased with the steps that we are taking forward as a team" said head coach
Chris Allen. "We are growing as a team and developing our identity, while getting better every game. It was good to score a couple of tidy goals, and we saw lots of possessions that will help us in the weeks to come. A lot of players got great minutes today, which is always great as the tighter the games become the more difficult it is to make changes. We have a really tough test on Sunday now. We will continue to adapt to the GLIAC/NCAA structure of two games in 48 hours."
UP NEXT
Davenport will stay in Illinois to take on Robert Morris (Ill.) on Sunday in Chicago. The game will start at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Story by:
Devin Steiner
Photo credit: Luke Tanaka
