(Posted October 22, 2005)

EARLY GOALS LEAD JUNIATA WOMEN?S SOCCER TO VICTORY
Juniata 2, Villa Julie 1

Owings Mills, Md. ? A pair of first-half goals proved to be enough for the Juniata College women?s soccer team on Saturday as the Eagles scored twice in the first 45 minutes and hung on for a 2-1 victory over Villa Julie in Owings Mills Md. Juniata improved to 6-10-1 with the win, while Villa Julie dropped to 8-8.

The victory gave Juniata six or more wins for each of the past fiver seasons, after not reaching the six-win plateau in any of the first seven years of the program.

Juniata got on the scoreboard mid-way through the first half. Nikki McLellan (Parkland/Lake Forest, Ca.) drove in her team-leading 12th goal of the season at the 21:12 mark to put Juniata in front 1-0. The score was one of nine shots for the Eagles in the first half.

The Blue and Gold then added to the lead 10 minutes before the halftime whistle, as Lindsay Garvey (Wellsboro Central/Essex, N.Y.) found the back of the net. Juniata would take the 2-0 lead into halftime.

The home team upped the pressure in the second half trying to cut into the Juniata lead. The Mustangs would cut the deficit in half on an unassisted goal by Stephanie Gutowski in the 69th minute.

But that was the only blemish on the day for Juniata keeper Kerri Lawrence (Paramus Catholic/Waldwick, N.J.) as she withstood more second-half pressure to keep Juniata in front. The freshman keeper made 10 saves inn goal, including eight in the second half to preserve the Juniata lead.

Villa Julie netminder Jen Roantes finished with six saves in the match.

Juniata will return to action on Wednesday with a Commonwealth Conference match at top-ranked Messiah College.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.