Danville, Ky. - Centre did something on Friday night that no other team had done this season: score on #1 WashU. The Colonels would ultimately put 2 in the net, but it was not enough against the defending national champions. WashU's offense proved too much in a 4-2 win over the Colonels.
The Bears came into the game outscoring opponents 47-0 through their first 8 fixtures on the year. It took them just 91 seconds to get on the board against Centre on Friday night. Off a corner kick, the ball deflected to a Bear 15 yards out. She was able to flick the ball to the upper corner of the net for the early tally. WashU looked for a second in the 7th minute, but
Madeline Redmon was there for the first of her six saves on the night. Centre proved tough, pressed WashU into a mistake and took advantage in the 10th minute.
Zara McCarthy got into a high press against the Bear backline near the WashU box. McCarthy forced a misplay, took possession, moved 2 dribbles to her right and drilled the ball into the net to level the score. The play turned the game upside down as no one would know how WashU would react given it had not allowed a goal this season before McCarthy's strike.
WashU just kept attacking and firing. Centre's back four were physical and forced a number of tries away from Redmon in goal. The Bears eventually would find another goal in the 27th minute to reassume the lead at 2-1. A crossbar in the 30th minute nearly made it 3-1, Bears. Instead, Centre took possession and sprinted up the right side of the pitch. McCarthy took the ball towards the WashU box and fired a perfect cross pass onto the right boot of
Aida Bell. The junior took the pass, and in one swift stroke, guided it home to tie the game again at 2 and show the Bears that the Colonels were not intimidated or going away. WashUÂ proved its strength right back with a return goal in the 35th minute as the action continued on both ends. The Bears took a thrilling 3-2 lead to halftime.
In the second half, WashUÂ nearly made it 4-2 in the 59th minute as a striker worked around Redmon, but Centre's back line was there to clear the ball out of an empty net. Centre's best chance for another equalizer came in the 75th minute. Off a corner, the ball deflected to
Ellery Taylor 20 yards out. The freshman put a strong hit on the ball, but the Bear keeper navigating through traffic to grab it before crossing the goal line. WashU would ultimately add a final goal in the 84th minute to seal a hard-fought win over the Colonels.
Despite being outshot 32-5 in total and 11-3 on goal, Centre left the pitch with optimism moving forward as the first team to challenge #1 this season. The Colonels will look to continue the momentum on Sunday when they head to Ohio to take on Marietta College starting at 1:00pm.
