CUA falls to Shenandoah 2-1, win streak snapped

WASHINGTON – Despite outshooting Shenandoah 29-10, CUA was only able to muster one goal and the Cardinals fell to the Hornets 2-1 on Tuesday, snapping their four-match winning streak.  All three goals were scored in the opening half, including Courtney Orgill’s team-leading seventh for the Cardinals.

CUA started the game with three shots in the opening two minutes, but Orgill’s was saved by Alyssa Plourde and the other two attempts were blocked.

Shenandoah’s first attempt came at the 4:19 mark by Jessi Dennis and CUA’s Yasmeen Ajdari stepped up to make the save.

Orgill got the scoring started when she found the back of the net at the 15:29 mark off an assist by Kate Masson to put CUA in front 1-0.

Lauren Cadott’s header at the 23:26 sailed high for the Cardinals, while Maggie McCarthy’s try two minutes later was wide.

Amber Womack pulled the Hornets even at the 31:05 mark when she scored to make it 1-1.

Three minutes later, Caitlin Brett looked to answer for CUA but her shot was saved.  Another attempt by Brett, this one coming at the 35:33 mark, went high, while Erin Saia’s shot a minute later was wide.

With less than five to play in the opening half, Kelly Miles took a feed from Jenna Kline and beat Ajdari with a shot over her the keeper's head to give the Hornets a 2-1 advantage.

In the second half, the shots continued to come for CUA, but the Cardinals were unable to score.

Mary McGann took the first attempt just 39 seconds into the half, but Plourde made her fourth save of the afternoon to keep the visitors in front.

At one point, in a span of only 90 seconds, CUA took four shots, but three were wide and the other was saved, keeping it a one-goal affair.

McGann tried her luck again at the 75:45 mark, but her attempt went wide, while Masson’s shot four minutes later was high.

The Cardinals final shot of the day came with under four to play from Ellen Jansen, but Plouride was there for the save.

CUA finished with 13 shots in the second half, while holding Shenandoah to just four.  The Cardinals also held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks on the day, while Ajdari stopped seven shots and Plourde sent back six.

CUA returns to the pitch on Saturday afternoon when the Cardinals play host to Juniata in a Landmark Conference showdown.  Start time is set for 3:30 p.m. in what is the second match in a soccer doubleheader at CUA Soccer Field.  The men’s game will get underway at 1.