Postgame

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Behind three first-half goals, the Marian University women's soccer team earned a strong non-conference victory over visiting Elmhurst College, 4-2, at Smith Field, this evening, Sept. 17.

The Sabres (2-4) jumped on the board in the 9' with a goal from Mikaila Johnson and raced out to a 3-0 lead on the Bluejays (4-2) before taking a 3-1 lead into halftime. Marian took advantage of Elmhurst playing its first match of the year on natural grass, converting goals on a few Bluejay misplays en route to a season-high offensive output.

"I thought we played well and with the intensity we needed from the get-go," First-year Head Coach Jillian Sauer said. "After halftime, Elmhurst made some adjusted, which we countered fairly quickly. Overall, I'm very proud of the effort we gave."

The first goal came on an opportunistic play from Johnson, who happened to be in the right place at the right time when the Elmhurst goalkeeper Melinda Vickers misplayed a pass right to her, while away from the goal. All Johnson had to do was loft it over Vickers' head and did so from about 40 yards out to make it 1-0 Sabres.

Two minutes later, Brittany Syms was the beneficiary on a beautiful centering pass from Maisie Floyd. Once again, Vickers found herself out of position and Syms finished at the top of the 18, putting a blast through an empty net to make it 2-0 just 9:39 into the first half.

Floyd then got into the fun by scoring her first of the season on a skillful move to get by Vickers, juking left and scoring from 10 yards out on a breakaway in the 25'.

"We focused on building our attacking third all week in practice and it was great to see us get off to a great start early," Sauer said. "It showed that the hard work we put in was paying off."

The Bluejays didn't go quietly, making it 3-1 before halftime with a penalty kick converted by Jackie Belmonte in the 34'. The penalty kick was awarded after the referee made an obvious call on a Marian handball in the box.

The Bluejays made it interesting at the start of the second half when Meagan McPherson tallied her third goal of the season in 24 seconds into the period. Elmhurst attacked quickly as Megan Hart made a smooth pass into the right side of the six-yard box and McPherson did the rest, placing it far post outside the outstretched hand of Marian goalie Caitlyn Rosenberger.

After that, there was a momentum shift that favored the Bluejays. However, the Sabres weren't about to let this one slip away and Syms made sure that didn't happen with her second goal of the game and third of the season in the 68'.

"She was solid once again," Sauer said of Syms' play. "She knew when to step, she knew when to drop back, and played great offensively and defensively the whole night."

The senior took a Leisa Conn pass, made a nice single-touch move around the keeper, and put it near post to make the score 4-2. The goal put the game out of reach, but not without some promising chances in the final five minutes from Elmhurst.

Alysha Kallas came on in relief for Rosenberger with a little more than 15 minutes remaining and made five key saves, including four that required quick reactions in front of the net inside of five minutes remaining.

The win marks the second straight for the Sabres in the all-time series as they improve to 2-5. Last year, Marian stunned Elmhurst with a 1-0 victory on the road.

"This win was a huge confidence builder," Sauer said. "To see the impact we had on the game when scoring first was big and something we need to build on going into this Saturday against MSOE."

The Sabres travel to Milwaukee this Saturday, Sept. 20, for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener against MSOE (4-1-1). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.