JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The match was a scoreless battle for much of the day, but second half goals by Ashley Drozd and Maggie Neiswanger, separated by just 11:37, proved to be the difference as the Saint Peter's Peacocks defeated the VMI Keydets, 2-0 in women's soccer action Sunday afternoon in Jersey City, N.J.
After the Keydets (2-5) had held Saint Peter's off the board for the first 66 minutes-plus despite being outshot 15-2, Drozd beat Emily Marbury at the 66:12 mark to give the Peacocks a lead they would not reliquish. 11:37 later, at the 77:49 mark, Neiswanger added the insurance goal to account for the final margin.
VMI generated the first offensive chances of the match, earning corner kicks in the fifth and 16th minutes. In between, Saint Peter's managed just one shot, a wide attempt at 10:51. The second VMI corner, however, seemed to slowly awaken the Peacocks' offense, as between 26:04 and the end of the half, SPU posted nine shots in less than 20 minutes. Only one, however, was on goal and it was stopped by Liz Nickerson to keep the match scoreless.
In the opening half, SPU held a 11-0 edge in shots despite the two Keydet corners. Nickerson's save was the only one of the opening period.
The second half opened with VMI's first shot, an Allie Segura try on goal that was saved by Molly O'Halloran. That save led to a Myranda Emery corner kick and another Segura try, but that one sailed high and the match remained scoreless.
Marbury relieved Nickerson in the 51st minute, and made her first save in the 62nd minute. The next shot, however, was Drozd's goal that gave SPU the lead for good. The Keydets managed two of their four shots after Drozd's goal, including one of the two they put on goal, but Neiswanger's 78th minute score accounted for the final margin, 2-0.
On the day, the home team held a 23-4 edge in shots, including 8-2 in shots on goal. Marbury had five saves in her time in the game, while the Keydets had six as a team. VMI finished with a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
VMI women's soccer returns to action Sept. 25, opening Big South play at High Point in High Point, N.C. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
