Box Score Final Score: Davidson 2, St. Bonaventure 0
Records: St. Bonaventure 4-6-1 (0-1 A-10) | Davidson 4-7-1 (1-0)
Location: Marra Athletics Complex – St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
The Short Story: Davidson had only two quality scoring chances in the entire game but made good on both and the Wildcats went on to a 2-0 win over St. Bonaventure Friday afternoon in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
In the 16th minute, Stephanie Piperno took a pass from Vicky Bruce off a corner kick and drilled a shot from about 16 yards out that eluded Bonnies' goalkeeper Christina Sarokon into the top right corner of the net.
It remained a 1-0 Davidson lead into the second half. In the 58th minute, the Wildcats grabbed hold of the game, again off a corner kick. From Sarokon's left, Bruce sent a low, hard crossing pass into a crowd of players in front of the net. The ball wound up on the foot of Lauren Grace Himes, who one-timed it into the net from close range.
After that, Davidson sagged nine players back on defense. St. Bonaventure did have two quality chances – the first with 36 minutes left when Molly Curry received a through pass from Danielle Vis between two defenders and missed the net right with her shot.
With about 5:00 left, Vis had a shot from about 10 yards that Wildcat keeper Rachel Locke dove to her left and saved.
Inside The Stats / Game Notes:
- St. Bonaventure had an 11-7 edge in shots but Davidson had five corner kicks to the Bonnies' three. Vis led the Bonnies in shots with three while Lauren Hill and Abby Maiello had two apiece.
- Locke made five saves while Sarokon had one.
- Weather was somewhat of a factor in the second half as a light rain fell throughout and the temperature dropped.
- Friday was the fourth time this year the Bonnies have been shut out; they were also blanked in their last game, a 1-0 decision Sept. 21 at UMass-Lowell.
- The Bonnies are now 2-2 at home.
- Not only was it the A-10 opener for both teams, it was Davidson's first game ever as a new conference member. The Wildcats, out of the Charlotte, N.C., region, previously were in the Southern Conference.
Next Up: The Bonnies will travel to Richmond, Va., to face the Richmond Spiders this Sunday afternoon at 1:00.
