PITTSBURGH -- A game that was 0-0 at the half and 1-0 in the 75th minute turned into a 6-0 victory for visiting Madonna (Mich.) University over Point Park University in an NAIA non-conference women's soccer game on Monday at Highmark Stadium.
Madonna (4-0) remained unbeaten thanks to five goals in the final 15 minutes that stretched out the final score to what it was. Point Park (0-4) continued its tough, non-conference schedule versus another quality opponent.
The Pioneers were on defense for most of the game, and they held in there for most of the way. Eventually the Crusaders were able to convert after Point Park spent so much time defending. There was also brutal heat that both teams were contending with with temperatures in the 90s.
The first goal proved to be a big momentum builder given the conditions, and it was Madonna that struck with Audrey Kopitz's tally in the 60th minute. The Crusaders worked the ball down the right side with Sierra Nissan crossing it to Nicolette Vultaggio at the top of the box, who got it over to Kopitz on the left for the goal.
Point Park put together some good sequences trailing 1-0 and looking for the equalizer. The best chance was Gabby Widman's free kick from 20 yards, a curving strike that Madonna keeper Julia Stewart knocked away at the last second for one of her three saves. The Pioneers had six shots in the game with three of them coming on goal.
Still leading just 1-0, Madonna doubled the lead to 2-0 on Nissan's goal in the 76th minute. She had a goal and two assists, and Kopitz assisted on that one on her way to three points. Two minutes later, Vultaggio made it 3-0 on a strong individual play for an unassisted goal. Nissan's second assist led to a goal by Alexis Bozinowski in the 82nd minute and a 4-0 lead. Madonna extended things out to 6-0 with a pair of goals in the final five minutes, both by Jamie Moceri.
Madonna had a 14-3 advantage in shots the first half, but Point Park's defense withstood that as the game remained scoreless. Point Park goalkeeper Ashtyn Webb tallied nine of her 11 saves in the first half. Madonna kept the attack going with 20 more shots the second half, and it was the final 10 or so of those when the goals started coming.
Point Park takes a break until Sunday when it travels to Pikeville (Ky.) for an NAIA game. Game time is 11 a.m. in Pikeville, Ky. Follow the Pioneers on PointParkSports.com and on social media @PointParkSports.
