PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team wrapped up their season long four game road trip with a 1-1 draw at Penn on Friday night.
Kelsey Gilbert scored her first collegiate goal and the goalkeeping of
Aytana Muschajew stopped a late flurry of shots for a 1-1 draw at Penn. The tie is Fairfield's first of the season and brings their record to 2-2-1.
The Stags' defense stood tall against a team that led the nation in scoring defense last season, with each side combining for just four shots over the first 45 minutes. Penn, however, was the first team to touch the back of the net when Breukelen Woodard took a pass from Emily Sands to break the shutout just two minutes into the second half.
After attempting just one shot through the first 57 minutes of the game, the Stags would find more of an offensive tempo in the second half. Fairfield was able to draw even on their second shot when
Kelsey Gilbert scored her first collegiate goal in the 57th minute off a pass from
Gabby Diodati to tie the game at 1-1. Fairfield would keep the offensive tempo up with
Brooke Hernon also firing a shot on net 30 seconds later, but was saved by Penn's goalkeeper, Kitty Qu.
With the clock winding down in regulation it was the defense of the Stags that stepped up as they recorded a team save to knock away Penn's Emma Loving's attempt.
Aytana Muschajew would then save the shot from Sara Readinger on the ensuing corner kick.
Muschajew would also turn away Readinger's attempt with just three minutes left in regulation to keep the game at 1-1.
Muschajew and the Stags would face a flurry of shots in the first overtime with Penn recording all four shots of the first additional 10 minutes. Muschajew needed one save during that span as she stopped Loving's attempt to the bottom left.
The Stags would push forward in the final minutes, registering four shots in the second overtime period, with three of those coming in a one minute span.
Nicole Stryjek capped the offensive chances with a shot on goal with 30 seconds left in the contest.
Fairfield was credited for eight shots compared to 15 for the Quakers. Muschajew tallied a game high four saves with the Stags forcing Penn's Qu to make three stops.
After a nearly three week hiatus, the Stags will return home to Lessing Field to host LIU on Sunday at 3pm.
