Cardinals upended by Goucher 2-0 in regular season home finale

WASHINGTON – CUA held a 29-7 advantage in shots over Goucher on Tuesday afternoon, but the Cardinals were unable to score as they fell to the Gophers 2-0 at CUA Soccer Field.  With the loss CUA falls to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the Landmark Conference, while Goucher ups its record 3-8-2 and 1-4 in the league.

CUA held a decided advantage in shots and corner kicks, as the Cardinals were awarded 11 corners to the Gophers zero.  In goal for the home team, Amanda Cowan made three saves, while Goucher goalkeeper Kellen Matthews had a strong performance with 11 stops.

CUA took two early shots but Courtney Orgill’s attempt was wide and Lauren Cadott’s went high.  That would prove to be the way things went for the Cardinals on this day as they had half a dozen shots hit either the crossbar or post throughout the match.

Shay Kettner put Goucher on top at the 11:22 mark when she chipped a shot in from just inside the box to make it 1-0. 

The Cardinals came back on the attack and appeared poised to tie things at one, but Matthews sent back six shots in the next 12 minutes to keep the Gophers lead intact.

With seven minutes remaining before halftime, CUA’s Kelly Donnelly took a shot and fired the rebound into the back of the net for an apparent goal, but the Cardinals captain was whistled for being offside and the score remained 1-0.

CUA unleashed four more shots in the final two-and-a-half minutes, but three went wide and Matthews stopped the other, sending the teams into intermission with the Cardinals trailing 1-0.

As the second half got going, CUA continued to get plenty of looks at the net, but the Cardinals just weren’t able to cash one in.  Ellen Jansen’s shot at the 60:51 mark sailed wide, as did Maggie McCarthy’s three minutes later and Mary McGann’s two minutes after that.

The Gophers then put the game away when Sarah Eaby found the back of the net at the 76:14 mark to make the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Cardinals had several more chances down the stretch, but Orgill’s shot hit the post and Matthews made two more saves to preserve the shutout.

CUA will return to action on Saturday when the Cardinals travel to New Jersey to take on Drew.  The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00.