Photo and Article via Jamestown Athletics
JAMESTOWN, ND. (JimmiePride.com) – The University of Jamestown women’s soccer team opened the 2021 season with a 2-0 victory over Graceland (Iowa) University Saturday afternoon at Jimmie Turf Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Jimmies (1-0-0) maintained possession in the offensive zone for the majority of the first half, getting nine total shots, including six on goal, against Yellowjacket goalkeeper Jazmean Lopez. Claire Struble (SR/Murrieta, Calif.) (2), Natalia Rodriguez (SR/Camarillo, Calif.), and Briana Perry (SR/Las Vegas, Nev.) all put shots on target within the first 15 minutes. Graceland (0-1-0) found some offensive footing inside of 10 minutes before the break, but an attempt by Rhiannon O’Looney went wide of the right post, and Talia Martinez and Elizabeth Falle both had shots turned aside by Jimmie keeper Alex Nowka (JR/Anchorage, Alaska).
In the second half, Graceland began by mounting pressure against the Jimmie defense, but were unable to get a shot on target until the 87th minute. Eventually Jamestown was able to break through the Yellowjacket back line, and in the 62nd minute, Cassandra Diaz (JR/Montebello, Calif.) slotted home a nice pass from Kamryn Fiscus (JR/Yakima, Wash.) for a 1-0 UJ lead. A shot by Aubree Gessel (SO/Temecula, Calif.) in the 66th minute went just wide left, and a brilliant team save by Graceland on a Fiscus shot in the 68th kept the Jimmies from extending their lead. Following a corner kick by Perry in the 85th minute, Fiscus finally found the back of the net and a crucial insurance goal just over five minutes from time.
Nowka made three saves for Jamestown while Lopez had eight stops before coming off in the 69th minute.
GAME NOTES:
Saturday’s win was the second straight season UJ opened with Graceland. The Jimmies defeated the Yellowjackets 2-1 on September 5 last year in Lamoni, Iowa…Jamestown finished with 18 shots overall and 12 on target, the most since putting 13 on target March 17 at Presentation (S.D.)…Head coach Nick Becker won his 97th match, extending his UJ all-time wins record…The goal by Diaz was her fifth career tally, while Fiscus scored for the 19th time in her career, which is the most among current Jimmie players…Jamestown recorded its fourth clean sheet in its last six matches, outscoring opponents 15-3 during that span.
UP NEXT:
The Jimmies have an exhibition match against NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) in Aberdeen on August 27 before beginning a stretch of six straight road matches at the Olivet Nazarene Labor Day Tournament in Bourbonnais, Ill., on September 4. UJ plays the host Tigers on the 4th, then take on Governors State University on September 6.