Marian University women’s soccer (0-0-1, 0-0-0 NACC) found the back of the net first but had to settle for a 1-1 tie in their season opener against Beloit.
The game proved to be methodical and physical in the early minutes, a trend that would hold true for all 110 minutes. Junior Ashley Welk was able to find the back of the net at the 21:10 mark after dancing around a pair of defenders and sending a shot from the top of the box. Welk found herself in another goal-scoring opportunity but grazed the top of the crossbar in the 36th minute. Each team recorded four shots in the balanced half.
The Buccaneers were able to find their equalizer just 7:30 into the second half. Beloit would hold a 7-5 advantage in shots during the second stanza and held an 11-9 lead for shots going into overtime.
Marian was presented the first opportunity in the opening minutes of overtime but Welk would be turned away on a breakaway opportunity. The defenses continued to dominate from then on, however, as the two squads totaled just two shots apiece en route to the 1-1 draw.
Senior Shannon Coughlin led the offense for Marian recording five shots with three being on frame. Junior Amy Birner (0-0-1) faced six shots making five saves as she earned a tie in her return to a Sabre uniform.
Marian hits the road for UW-Oshkosh Saturday, Sept. 4 taking on the Titans for a 7 p.m. non-conference match.
–FightBlueFight—
