FINDLAY, Ohio (August 31, 2023) - Women's soccer could not have asked for a better start to their 2023 campaign, securing a road win over the Findlay Oilers, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon.
It took a while for the action to get going as both teams spent the first few minutes feeling each other out. The Oilers had the first crack at goal, but keeper
Carly Brodsky was able to stymie the attempt.Â
In the 39th minute,
Lizzie Hill fed a ball near the Findlay box.
Briyah Drayton was able to outhustle the Oiler keeper and get to the ball first. After maneuvering around the defender, Drayton cashed her first goal since 2021 after sitting out last season due to injury.
Rollins began the second half as the aggressors, firing five shots (two on goal) in the first seven minutes. They did not convert, and Findlay was able to answer back.
A foul in the box led to a penalty kick for Findlay in the 54th minute when Madison Mlsna found the back of the net to knot the score at one each.
In the 67th minute, the Oilers returned the favor when
Kayla Park was taken down in the restricted area, setting her up for a penalty. She calmy sent a rocket to the bottom right corner of the net to put Rollins up 2-1.
The cherry on top came with 13 minutes to play. Drayton worked the ball down the sideline, and delivered a nice cross to Hill. Some beautiful legwork from the UAB transfer moved her past her initial defender, followed by a deke of the keeper and a wide open net where she deposited her first goal as a Tar to make the final of 3-1.
Rollins ripped 15 shots with seven on target in this one. Brodsky was solid in goal, saving both regulation shots sent her way.
The Tars are back in action in Ohio again on Saturday when they face Ashland at 6:00 pm.
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