Cardinals ride strong defensive showing to 2-0 win at home

WASHINGTON – Behind a strong defensive performance, CUA snapped its three-match losing streak and opened Landmark Conference action with a 2-0 win over Moravian on Saturday inside Cardinal Stadium.  Courtney Orgill and Kate Masson provided the offense for the Cardinals and the defense limited the Greyhounds to only 12 shots on the day.

CUA took the first four shots of the afternoon, including one from Mary McGann that hit the post and another by Orgill that was uncontested on an empty net, but sailed high.

Moravian’s first shot came at the 6:50 mark from Rachel Hurley but it went high.

In the 13th minute Orgill took a pass from Noelle Arcomano and found the back of the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 CUA lead.

Minutes after the Cardinals goal Caroline Burke looked to make it a two-goal advantage, but her shot was denied by Greyhounds keeper Genevieve Chaleff.

At the 37:46 mark Maggie McCarthy tried her hand for CUA, but again Chaleff made the stop to keep the score 1-0.

With a little more than five minutes to go in the half, Caitlin Brett got a shot off for the Cardinals, but it went high and soon after the teams went into halftime with CUA ahead by one.

Five minutes into the second half Moravian’s Arielle Caldas got off back-to-back shots but CUA keeper Christina Cassidy stopped both attempts to preserve the shutout.

Later, Orgill’s shot at the 56:52 mark was stopped by Chaleff as was Arcomano’s nine minutes after that.

In the 73rd minute CUA increased its lead to two when Kaylre Greaves fed Masson with a beautiful pass that Masson put into the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Moravian was only able to get off two more shots for the remainder of the match, but one was wide and the other went high, and CUA came away with the victory.

CUA was credited with 19 shots on the afternoon, while Moravian totaled 12.  The Cardinals finished with five corner kicks to only two for the visitors, and in goal Cassidy sent back five shots and Chaleff stopped nine.

CUA now hits the road for its next four matches, beginning on Tuesday afternoon when the Cardinals travel to take on St. Mary’s.  Match time is slated for 4 p.m.