DUE WEST, S.C. - The Converse College soccer team came up on the wrong end of a 1-0 score versus Erskine on Wednesday afternoon at Huggins Field. Both defenses were on point the majority of the contest, but the Fleet were able to score early in the second half, accounting for the only goal of the game.
MATCH INFORMATION
SCORE: Converse 0, Erskine 1
RECORDS: Converse (0-11, 0-8 CC), Erskine (4-5-1, 2-4-1 CC)
LOCATION: Huggins Field, Erskine College, Due West, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Kayla Noon led the Valkyries with two shots.
- Gianna Mancinelli and A.C. Albritton tallied one shot each.
- Erskine held a 10-4 advantage on shots and 5-2 on corner kicks.
- Darian Bankston allowed only one goal, while collecting five saves.
- Erskine's Anna Smith posted the only score of the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The first 24 minutes of the first half were about holding onto the ball as the two teams were equal on time of possession. Mancinelli looked poised to put the Valkyries on top in the 22nd minute, but her shot was hauled in by the Fleet keeper, denying the Vals from taking the early lead.
From that point Erskine began to put pressure on the Converse defense as it was able to fire away a total of four shots. However, Bankston was solid in goal, not allowing anything to get past her and sending the match into the intermission in a scoreless tie.
Second Half
The second frame began much like the first as both teams tried to gain the upper hand. Erskine was able to do just that in the 59th minute following Anna Smith's first goal of the season. Smith corralled a ball from the previous corner and snuck it just by Bankston.
Bankston helped to keep Converse in the game with a pair of saves in the 62nd and 65th minutes of action. The Purple and Gold had a great opportunity to knot the score at the 69:38 mark, but Noon's strike sailed just wide. Albritton also had a shot at goal late in the half (81:07) but her boot was pulled in by the Erskine goalie. That was the last shot either team would get for the remainder of the game and Erskine walked away with the minimal 1-0 win.
UP NEXT
Converse will travel to Central, S.C. on Saturday, October 19, facing the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan University. That contest is scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m.