Lady Pioneers net 1-0 win on Senior Day to regain control of their OAC playoff fate

Oct. 25, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – Tuesday's (Oct. 25) Ohio Athletic Conference women's soccer game between Mount Union and Marietta had special meaning for four Pioneer seniors, as they played what my be their final game in front of the home crowd. Fans who braved the cold and rainy conditions at Don Drumm Stadium were not disappointed, as the Lady Pioneers defeated the Purple Raiders 1-0.

The victory improved Marietta's record to 14-2-2, 5-2-1 in the OAC, and snapped a three-game winless streak. Mount Union fell to 6-10-1, 3-4-1 in league play. When combined with a Capital and Wilmington 0-0 tie, it also gave Marietta control of second place if it can defeat Capital Friday (Oct. 28) at 4 p.m. A Pioneer win on Friday would lock up the second seed and a home game in next week's OAC Tournament.

The score was tied until the 40th minute, when a Jill Sorboro (Cuyahoga Falls) corner kick found Vanessa Nicholls (Cornwall, ONT) open on the far post. Nicholls took the pass and beat the keeper for her fifth goal of the year.

The Nicholls' goal was all that Marietta needed, as senior defenders Emilee Knowlton (Marietta) and Kristin Drain (Point Pleasant, W.Va.), as well as senior goalkeeper Bethany Blahnik (Mansfield/Ontario) kept Mount Union off the scoreboard. Blahnik finished with three saves en route to the record-breaking shutout. It was her 12th of the season, breaking the single-season record of 11 that she set in 2004.

Marietta out shot Mount Union 12-5 in the victory.

Following the game, Blahnik, Drain, Knowlton and Amy Lehosit (Pickerington) were recognized for their accomplishments over the last four years. The group has combined to win 49 games, the most by any class to have gone through Marietta College.

The seniors and their teammates will look to extend Marietta's season beyond the regular season, but will first have to take on Capital Friday afternoon on its home turf. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.