ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes women's soccer team secured a 1-0 victory in their Landmark Conference opener against the Elizabethtown Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.
The Colonels improve to 6-3 and 1-0 in Landmark play, while the Blue Jays fall to 2-3-3 and 0-1 in the conference.
The Blue Jays opened the first half with strong energy, generating 11 shot attempts. Despite these chances, Elizabethtown could not find an opportunity to fight through Wilkes' defense shape.
Wilkes found a golden opportunity in the 19th minute after the Blue Jays conceded a free kick.
Elena Krajain (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) stepped up to deliver the service, and
Jess Shea (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) capitalized, burying the lone goal of the match. That was all the Colonels needed as their defense kept the Blue Jays offense scoreless the rest of the way.
In the second half, Wilkes found quality offensive chances from
Sarah Straup (Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and
Abby Bolz (Fair Hill, MD/Rising Sun) that were unable to find the back of the next. Despite the missed opportunities, the Colonels controlled the attack and ultimately outshot Elizabethtown 11-7.
Elizabethtown outshot Wilkes 18-16, yet Wilkes had more opportunities on net with six to Elizabethtown's five. Bolz led the team in shots with six, followed by
Erin Edwards (East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and Straup with three apiece.
Delaney Yaracs (Butler, PA/Butler) finished the game with a shutout, making five saves in the afternoon.
Wilkes returns to action on Wednesday, September 30, in a nonconference match up against Muhlenberg College. The game will begin at 7 p.m. respectively.
