ALLENTOWN, Pa. - After a gut-wrenching conference loss on Wednesday night to defending national champion Johns Hopkins University the Dickinson women's soccer team got back to their winning ways on Saturday afternoon by downing the host Muhlenberg College 3-0 in Centennial Conference action at Varsity Field.
The Devils wasted little time putting the home side under pressure as
Ava Prisco sent a shot wide right in the 2nd-minute. Then, with 4:11 off the clock a foul on the Mules in the defensive third allowed
Katie Vassilakos to rocket a free kick past Sara Pecorelli for the early 1-0 lead. Over the ensuing seven minutes
Maddie St. Amand, Prisco (2) and Vassilakos recorded four shots total forcing one stop by Pecorelli. Another home foul in the 17th-minute set the stage for goal number two when the free kick played in by
Emily Dunkel was nodded into the net by
Lila Brown for the 2-0 advantage. Dickinson continued to blast away at Pecorelli's goal with shots flying from
Allie Charnas,
Isra Khan, Prisco and St. Amand, forcing two more saves from Pecorelli to send things to the half at 2-0.
Dickinson continued to have a go at the Muhlenberg backline early in the second-half with offerings from
Bridget Merkel and Vassilakos causing stops out of Pecorelli within the first five minutes. Then, in the 64th, the Devils made it 3-0 thanks to a finish by St. Amand off a cross from Merkel. Before Muhlenberg would get a look at goal, the Red and White added three more shots coming from
Sarah Cudmore,
Sophia Elguera and Merkel, which tasked Pecorelli with making one save. Devils keeper
Elizabeth Allen finally was called into action with 71:22 off the clock as she beat aside an attempt by Lexi Sipos. From then on Muhlenberg would be held without another shot, while
Ava Burgess and
Allison Cudmore missed the mark to end the match 3-0.
Red Devil Leaders
Goals - Brown, St. Amand and Vassilakos (1)
Shots - Prisco (6), Vassilakos (4), St. Amand (3)
Saves - Allen (1)
Mule Leaders
Shots - May and Sipos (1)
Saves - Pecorelli (8)
Next on the Pitch
Dickinson (6-2-0, 2-1-0 Centennial) faces a stiff challenge on Wednesday night when they welcome fifth-ranked Messiah University to Miller Memorial Field for a 7pm kickoff.
