BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg women's soccer team matched No. 6 West Chester throughout Saturday's season opener, but an early second-half goal lifted the Golden Rams to a 1-0 victory in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division action at Steph Pettit Stadium.
The Huskies (0-1, 0-1 PSAC East) controlled 57% of the possession and placed five of their 12 shots on goal. Bloomsburg outshot West Chester 5-4 during a scoreless opening half and finished with a 5-4 advantage in shots on target.
West Chester (1-0, 1-0) broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. Grace Trott played a pass to Adriana Ryder, who converted the opportunity for the game's lone goal.
Bloomsburg nearly struck first moments earlier. Anna Dalesandro (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) tested West Chester goalkeeper Grace Keen with a shot on target at 47:25, but Keen secured the attempt.
The Huskies continued to push forward following Ryder's goal. Kelsey Beatie (Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink) and Anika Krasnai (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) each sent attempts high before Jordan Andrews (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) put a shot on frame in the 65th minute. Keen made the save to preserve the Golden Rams' narrow advantage.
West Chester attempted to add to its lead, but goalkeeper Izzy Hoffeditz (Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan) kept Bloomsburg within striking distance. The first-time starter stopped Jordan Nguyen's low attempt in the 58th minute and denied Kara Slavin in the 77th.
Bloomsburg created two late opportunities through Beatie. Keen stopped Beatie's shot in the 82nd minute before her final attempt went just wide left less than a minute later.
The Huskies established their attacking presence during the opening half. Olivia Thompson (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) produced Bloomsburg's first two attempts before Andrews and Cassidey Snyder forced consecutive saves from Keen in the 28th minute. Caydence Feehan (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) added another shot late in the period.
Hoffeditz made her first save in a Bloomsburg uniform on Lindsey Balmer's attempt in the 40th minute, helping send the teams into halftime scoreless.
West Chester held a slim 13-12 advantage in total shots and a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Hoffeditz finished with three saves, while Keen made five stops. Beatie led the Huskies with three shots, while Andrews and Thompson recorded two apiece.
The Huskies travel to Millersville for a PSAC East matchup at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.
