McPHERSON, Kan. --- Dalia Fernandez scored with 2:56 to play to push Friends University past McPherson College, 2-1, in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) women's soccer action on Saturday at The Kennel.
The visiting Falcons (7-5, 4-1 KCAC) struck first as Hanna Gallant headed an Emma Cuda corner kick past Bulldog keeper
Sheryl Evans (Nassau, Bahamas) in the 27th minute. The lead held until the 82nd minute when
Emma Van Donselaar (Overland Park, Kan.) launched an arching shot from outside the 18-yard box that sailed over the reach of Friends goalkeeper Lauren Ferguson and into the back of the net to knot the score.
Friends spent the next few minutes on the offensive, taking three shots and having another attempt whistled dead by an offsides call before Fernandez notched the game-winner with just inside three minutes to play. Fernandez collected a deflection from a McPherson player and put another shot past Evans.
The Falcons outshot the Bulldogs, 14-7, overall and held a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. Friends also had seven corner kicks in the match, compared to just three for McPherson - all of which came in the first half. The Bulldogs were also whistled four times for being offsides, including three times in the first half.
Ana Guerrero (Graton, Calif.) had four of McPherson's seven shots, including two of the four shots on goal. Van Donselaar,
Danielle Kakebeen (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and
Dina Der Vartanian (Sierra Madre, Calif.) were also credited with shots.
Evans made five saves for the Bulldogs.
Emma Cuda and Hannah Gallant each three shots to lead the Falcons, while Fernandez had a pair. Ferguson was credited with three saves in a complete-game effort.
"Today was the first goal all year we have conceded in the run of play," said head coach
Doug Quint. "Once again, though, defending set pieces cost us a game. This is something our ladies must take from the training grounds and implement in the games."
The Bulldogs (5-4, 1-3 KCAC) hit the road on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. matchup with Bethel College (3-7, 0-4 KCAC) at Thresher Stadium in North Newton.
