Women’s Soccer Falls 2-0 at Delaware

Sunday, August 23

Newark, Del.

1 PM

Army West Point

1-1

Delaware

2-0

Army West Point

DELAWARE

Women’s Soccer Falls 2-0 at Delaware

August 23, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – The Army West Point women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Delaware during a nonconference match on Sunday afternoon at Grant Stadium. The Black Knights slip to 1-1 on the season while the Blue Hens improve to 2-0.

"Delaware was the better team to start the game today," head coach Marcia McDermott said. "We we played much better as the game went on and we will learn a lot from this game. It will help us improve going forward."

Offensive chances were difficult to come by for both sides in the early goings as Army West Point and Delaware registered just one shot apiece through the opening 30 minutes. Action picked up over the next few minutes though, with both teams earning their share of scoring opportunities.

Jordan Cassalia made a diving play on a cross from Delaware's Natalie Zelenky to snuff out the Blue Hens' offensive pressure in the 32nd minute, but the hosts responded with a goal just over two minutes later when Nikki Adams beat Cassalia on a shot from just inside the 18-yard box to give Delaware a 1-0 lead.

The Black Knights came back with a pair of dangerous scoring chances just seven seconds apart in the 37th minute as Candace Stewart fired a shot on goal that was stopped by Delaware keeper Kailyn Rekos before Clare Shea followed up with an attempt that Rekos swallowed up.

Both teams went without a shot over the final 8:04 of the opening half.

Play went back and forth early on in the second half, with both the Black Knights and the Blue Hens holding possession in their attacking ends. Delaware used a long pass into Army West Point's end of the field to set up an eventual shot in the 53rd minute, but Cassalia made a diving fingertip grab on a one-touch chance from Maddie Brosler to keep her team's deficit at one.

Jade Jamison gave the Black Knights their first scoring threat of the second period, but her shot in the 55th minute was blocked away by the Blue Hen defense. Army West Point continued to pressure Delaware's back line over the next several minutes as Katie Holder fired a long shot that went just over the crossbar in the 64th minute.

The Blue Hens maintained presence on the Black Knights' end of the field during the next several minutes, but Army West Point defenders got in the way of a number of Delaware's passes to prevent any real scoring opportunities.

Shea had a header go wide of the right post in the 79th minute following a cross from Pam Wishart before Delaware's Riley Curtin found space along the left side and sent a pass in to Zelenky who scored to double the Blue Hens' lead to 2-0 in the 84th minute.

The Black Knights had a final scoring chance in the in the 88th minute when Sam Gottlieb's shot rang off the crossbar.

Army West Point is back at Clinton Field with a pair of games next week as the Black Knights host Youngstown State on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. before welcoming Harvard on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.

Game Notes: The all-time series between Army West Point and Delaware moves to 2-2-0 … Cassalia made five saves in net for the Black Knights.