Moore Nets Game Winner

It’s the kind of win that showed the Lancers not only how good the are, but how good they can be.

Mia Moore scored the game-winner as St.Mary’s handed Nichols a 1-0 loss in Monsignor Martin Athletic Association girls soccer that was played at Strauss-Truscott Field on the Nichols campus.

With the victory, the Lancers improved to 8-2 on the season as they handed the Vikings (7-1-1) their first loss of the year. Lancer head coach Brittany Heist said her team can certainly use this win as a confidence booster, but there is lots of soccer left to play.

“I want them to understand this isn’t the end of our season, beating Nichols. It’s just the start,” said Heist.

“We build from it. There’s definitely things that I think we need to work on, but we capitalized early and to be able to play our style for the remainder of the game was really exciting.”

Moore’s goal came midway through the first half and held up the rest of the way.

Interestingly enough, the shot looked relatively harmless when Moore took it.

Moore booted the ball and it appeared as if it would miss the net, but it hooked to the right, catching the upper corner of the far side of the net.

“I didn’t think it was gonna go in,” said Moore. “But then it curved because of the wind and just bounced in.”

While the Lancers knew the game was far from over getting that first goal helped them play more relaxed.

The Vikings, especially in the second half, tried to focus on exposing what they felt were chinks in the Lancers’ defensive wall. While they were able to create chances throughout, St.Mary’s keeper Anya Achtyl was up to the challenge as she made 14 saves.

After the game Nichols coach Larry Desautles remarked that St.Mary’s was the “best team” that they played to date. As the Lancers were quick and skilled, but also were a physically strong and gritty group.

“We moved players,” said Desautels. “Our kids played better in the second half, but a lot of it has to do with where we put players.”

There’s no time for either team to rest as both will be back in action Wednesday.

The Vikings will host Sacred Heart, while the Lancers travel to Allegany-Limestone.