Freshman midfielder Jessica Whittaker scored the only goal of the contest in the 82nd minute to power Canisius to a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State in collegiate women’s soccer action Sunday at Farmers National Bank Field in Youngstown, Ohio.
Junior keeper Jordan Spencer recorded three saves for the Golden Griffins (1-1-2) as she continued her shutout streak to a third straight game.
The Penguins (3-1-0) started off strong with their first scoring chance coming only 32 seconds into the game on a shot from Maddie Keister that would be saved by Spencer.
Canisius would get their first opportunity of the game from junior Emma Oliphant in the fifth minute, but it would go wide.
The Griffs had some excellent defensive plays throughout the game highlighted by a Keister shot that was headed away by Meghan Heath and the duo of Sophia Konstantinou and Spencer teamming up to thwart a prime chance for the Penguins later in the first half.
The Golden Griffins first chance of the second half came from the foot of junior defender Erin Weir in the 49th minute, but her shot would go just wide.
Canisius would follow that up with a pair of opportunities in the 51st minute by Oliphant and Skylar Cornell but both shots would be stopped by Penguins goaltender Brooklynn Kirkpatrick.
Spencer continued her excellent play, breaking up a Youngstown State fast break and then intercepting a dangerous cross midway through the second half.
The Penguins would get one of their best chances of the game on a shot from Jordan Evans just past the 66-minute mark, but Spencer would fly across the net and push the attempt wide.
Whittaker scored her first collegiate goal and the Griffs first goal of the season on a turnaround shot in front of the net off a corner to put the Golden Griffins up 1-0. Harkness and Cornell picked up the assists on the goal.
That would be all the support that Spencer and the Canisius defense would need as it held YSU to just one shot, an off-target try in the the 87th minute, over the remainder of regulation to secure the victory.
Game Notes
• Sunday’s game served as the 16th meeting between the two programs and the Golden Griffins 10th win against the Penguins.
• Spencer posted the fifth shutout of her career and continued her shutout streak to three games with Sunday’s clean sheet.
• Whitaker scored her first collegiate goal in just her fourth game played.
• The Golden Griffins out-shot the Penguins by a 14-7 margin for the contest, with six attempts being on goal.
• Freshman Devin Dance recorded her first collegiate start joining Whitaker as the only Griffs freshman to do so this season.
Up Next
Canisius heads back home to face Buffalo in a Western New York battle. Opening kickoff for the derby contest between the Griffs and Bulls is slated for 6 p.m. at the Demske Sports Complex.
For complete coverage of Canisius women’s soccer, visit @CanisiusWSOC on Twitter and @canisiuswsoccer on Instagram
