PITTSBURGH – Twenty-first ranked Fairmont State held off a late offensive surge by Point Park to pick up a 1-0 victory over the Pioneers on Wednesday evening at FNB Stadium. Point Park fired five shots in the final 17 minutes of the game, including three that required saves by Fairmont State's goalkeeper.
The first 59 minutes of the game featured an aggressive defensive battle before Fairmont State's Stephanie Pedias fired in a goal with an assist from Ava Yannucci in the 60th.
It was PPU's first surrendered goal in four games dating back to Sept. 30 against West Virginia State. Prior to that goal, you have to go back to Sept. 16 against Fairmont State for a Point Park allowed goal.
In the 74
th minute following a substitution,
Maria Gomez fired a shot toward the bottom center of the goal, but Fairmont State's Olivia Johnston turned it away with a save.
Rebecca Pihlgren fired the final four shots of the game for Point Park, with the first in the 81
st minute that was saved by Johnston. In the 82
nd minute, Pihlgren quickly took another attempt, but this time it sailed just left of the post.
In the 85
th minute, Pihlgren found some space again and tried to beat Johnston to the left, but again the visitors recorded the save. Her final attempt came in the 90th minute, but sailed high with just 15 seconds remaining.
The game was closely contested, with Fairmont State holding a 6-4 advantage in on-target shots. FSU also had a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Nicole Kuchinski put together a high-level performance on Wednesday, recording five saves while giving up just her fourth goal of the season (the first she had given up in two weeks).
Johnston maintained a clean sheet with four saves, but was challenged late by Pihlgren and the PPU offense.
Point Park's schedule doesn't get any easier, as the Pioneers travel to Frostburg State for a Saturday evening matchup with the Bobcats. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
Point Park won the first matchup between the two teams, 1-0, back on Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh (Rooney Field).
