CHESTER, Pa. - In their first MAC Commonwealth matchup of the season, the Pride fell 2–1 to Stevenson in a closely contested Homecoming battle.
The Pride drops to 7-4 on the season and opens conference play 0-1.
BY THE NUMBERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
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The Pride opened its conference slate with strong defensive play early, led by goalie Fithian, who made multiple key saves to keep the Mustangs off the board. The Pride generated pressure of their own with a penalty corner and a blocked shot from Kayleigh Armstrong, followed by a good look from Anabella Cenci that was stopped by the Mustang keeper. Despite the early push, Stevenson broke through to take a 1–0 lead heading into the second period.
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The second quarter saw Widener continue to battle defensively. The Pride's backline stayed active, blocking multiple shot attempts. Despite a green card against Cenci that left the Pride short-handed for a stretch, the Pride held firm and kept Stevenson from extending its lead, heading into halftime trailing 1–0.
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The Mustangs extended their lead early in the third quarter, capitalizing off a penalty corner to make it 2–0 despite another strong start in goal from Fithian, who turned away multiple shots in the first few moments of the game. The Pride continued to push back, but the Mustangs' pressure kept Widener largely on its heels. Fithian's composure in goal prevented the deficit from growing further as the Pride entered the final period looking to rally.
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The Pride showed resilience in the final quarter, breaking through when Karly Bervinchak buried a goal off an assist from Cenci to cut Stevenson's lead in half. The Pride kept up the pressure late, generating strong offensive movement and holding firm on defense despite multiple fouls and cards on both sides. Though the Pride's comeback effort fell just short, the team's late surge highlighted their determination in the conference opener.
UP NEXT
The Pride hit the road to take on York College in York, Pa., on Wednesday, October 15. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
