LATROBE, Pa. (Sept. 3) – The Saint Vincent women's soccer team opened up its 2023 home slate in fine fashion, defeating Hiram College 3-0 at a steamy UPMC Field.
Tanisha Grewal scored a pair of goals for SVC (1-1), while
Madison Arnold made eight saves in goal to earn the shutout. The Bearcats out-shot the Terriers (0-1-1) 19-12, and held a 7-1 margin in corner kicks.
Grewal got the Bearcats on the board just 10:33 into the first half, taking a long lead pass from
Jordan Kirkwood in traffic and burying it with her right foot from just inside the box.
The Terriers saw their best scoring chance midway through the opening half. A Hiram corner kick in the 24th minute led to an Arnold save in close, while less than two minutes later, SVC defender
Olivia Toomey dove in front of a shot targeted for the goal to preserve the lead. A handball was then called on SVC in front of the net, leading to a Hiram penalty kick, but Arnold sprawled to make the save and keep the Terriers off the board.
The tide would then again turn the way of the Bearcats, who added an insurance tally with just over 11 minutes left in the half when
Emma Koller won the race against the Hiram keeper to a loose ball at the top of the box and knocked it into the cage to make it 2-0.
Saint Vincent continued to control possession over large swaths of the second half and would put the game away in the 73rd minute on Grewal's second strike. After a long stretch of possession deep inside their attacking zone, a shot from
Ashley Smith in close was deflected over the end line, leading to an SVC corner. Cory Bieber sent a perfect lofting ball into the box, where Grewal maneuvered heavy traffic to blast it just inside the crossbar to give the Bearcats the 3-goal lead and close the day's scoring.
Eight different Bearcat players were credited with at least one shot, with
Reegan Leeper credited with a game-high four shots, and Grewal and
Lexi Durkacs three apiece.
Saint Vincent will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 6, when it welcomes crosstown rival Pitt-Greensburg to UPMC Field for a 3 p.m. non-conference bout.
