Lincoln, NE 9/4/2022- The Westminster women's soccer team traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to start their season. They lost the season opener to Concordia- M'head 1-0 Friday night in a neutral site contest. The Blue Jays looked to get their first win of the season Saturday afternoon when they faced off against Nebraska Wesleyan. The Jays were the aggressors for most of the game getting eight shots on goal to the Prairie Wolves' four. However, two Nebraska Wesleyan shots found the back of the net and their keeper blanketed the Westminster attack. The Prairie Wolves would defeat the Blue Jays 2-0.
Westminster came out firing, getting four shots on goal in the first twenty minutes of play. Abbey Montana (Barnhart, MO Seckman) intercepted a pass around midfield and had space to work with pressing forward toward the Prairie Wolves' side of the field. She took a shot just outside the penalty box but missed just wide right of the goal. Kelsey Gordon (St. Louis, MO/ Lindbergh)tried going top shelf after the ball found her foot when Nebraska Wesleyan tried to clear the ball from the right corner.
The Blue Jays had two more opportunities halfway into the first half when Delaney Kaiser put a shot on goal after Paige Sunneberg (Wentzville, MO / Holt) found some space and pressed up the right sideline to find a cutting Kaiser near the right box. The Prairie Wolves defender partially blocked the shot attempt and made it an easier save for their goalkeeper. Westminster earned a free kick at the 17:07 mark after a foul by Nebraska Wesleyan. Annalise Beck (St. Louis, MO / Notre Dame High School) took the free kick and put the ball just left of the goal where Sunneberg had a header attempt barely miss the right post.
Nebraska Wesleyan got their first shot attempt after almost twenty-five minutes of play, and it went way over the goal. Their second attempt would come at the thirty-minute mark. The Prairie Wolves would find a player cutting to the left box near the ten-yard line after a throw-in. The shot would split two Blue Jays defenders and goalkeeper Megan Davidson (St. Louis, MO / Affton High School) made a diving attempt but could not keep the ball out of the net. Nebraska Wesleyan lead 1-0 with fifteen minutes left to play in the half. Jenna Frisella (St. Louis, MO / Oakville High School) got a through ball and put a shot on goal trying to tie the game with two minutes to go before halftime. The Prairie Wolves' keeper would handle it and they would go into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Westminster was threatening again early in the second half, firing three shots on goal. Payton Montana (Barnhart, MO / Seckman) had a shot go just high of the goal. Lauren Halamicek (St. Louis, MO / Oakville High School) had shot off her knee after a cross attempt by Montana. P. Montana had a good look and sent a shot to the bottom right of the goal but was denied by the Nebraska Wesleyan goalie. The Prairie Wolves would score their second goal of the game with minutes to play in the second half. Sunneberg had a great header attempt near the top of the goalie box after a free kick from Beck, but the Wolves goalie would make a great diving save with nine minutes left to play and keep Westminster off the scoreboard.
With Blue Jays desperately trying to score a goal being down 2-0 and time running out, they would earn a free kick with a minute and a half let in the game. A. Montana would have a header blocked and Beck got the rebound but her shot went wide left of the goal. The Prairie Wolves would hold off the Blue Jays winning the game with a final score of 2-0.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Friday, September 9th when they host the University of the Ozarks for the home opener. That game will kick off at 4:00 PM
