McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- A tally by
Ana Guerrero (Graton, Calif., Santa Rosa JC) in the 74th minute proved to be the lone goal in a 1-0 McPherson College women's soccer victory over the University of Saint Mary Wednesday evening at McPherson Stadium.
McPherson (7-7, 4-5 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) dominated possession and pace of play throughout the match. The Bulldogs outshot the Spires (7-7-2, 3-5-1 KCAC) by a 15-3 margin overall and held a 7-1 edge in shots on goal, but could not break through until the 74th minute when
Danielle Kakebeen (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., San Bernardino Valley College) served a ball into the box from 30 yards out.
Ashley Taylor (Eastvale, Calif., Chino Hills HS) cut towards the goal in front of Guerrero, effectively serving as a screen as a pair of USM defenders moved with her, allowing Guerrero to catch up with the ball about 13 yards off the end line. She sent a shot back across the goal mouth, tucking the ball just inside the post for the score.
The Bulldogs had a couple of chances on their two corner kicks in the first half, but saw one shot blocked by a Saint Mary defender directly in front of the goal, while Saint Mary goalkeeper Jessica Ramirez poked away another.
Dina Der Vartanian (Sierra Madre, Calif., Alverno HS) nearly doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a shot from nearly 40 yards out that glanced off the crossbar.
Kakebeen finished with a game-high six shots, with three finding the frame. Guerrero added four shots, including three on goal. Der Vartanian was the only other Bulldog with multiple shots with two.
Christie Silber (Simi Valley, Calif., Simi Valley HS / Simi Valley Eclipse SC) collected her seventh clean sheet of the year and second in a row. Interestingly, all seven of McPherson's wins this season have been shutouts.
Amanda Martin, Gabriela Rodriguez and Courtney Callahan all had shots for Saint Mary with Martin's being the lone shot to find the frame.
Ramirez was credited with six saves in goal for the Spires.
The Bulldogs also celebrated their four seniors following the contest as the careers of Guerrero, Kakebeen,
Rhea Vale (London, England, Blackfen Girls School) and
Lacy Fry (Severance, Colo., Windsor HS) were acknowledge and recognized.
"Sometimes you have those games when you do not play your best," said head coach
Mark Olson. "Tonight, it was not pretty but we fought through it and got the goal for the win. I am very proud of our senior class and so happy that it was our seniors - Ana and Danielle - who were involved with the winning goal."
McPherson returns to the pitch Saturday afternoon with a game against York College (8-6-2, 5-3-1 KCAC) at the Cornerstone Soccer Complex in York, Nebraska. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. The Bulldogs currently sit alone in sixth place with two games to play and their final two regular-season opponents - York and Kansas Wesleyan (6-7-2, 5-3-1 KCAC) - sitting directly above them in the league table. The top eight teams qualify for the KCAC Tournament, while the top four will secure home quarterfinal matches Nov. 3-4.
