ST. LOUIS — The seventh-ranked Bellarmine University women's soccer team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a 1-1 draw at Maryville on Friday.
Freshman midfielder
Samantha Ferry scored her second goal in two matches for Bellarmine (1-0-1, 0-0-1 GLVC), delivering just before halftime. Maryville (1-1-1, 0-0-1) answered about 15 minutes into the second half.
The defenses didn't allow many prime chances, although Maryville goalkeeper Alison Riddle made a few key diving stops charging forward to thwart Bellarmine scoring opportunities including in the second overtime. The Saints had a 6-5 edge in shots, including 6-3 on frame.
"First, I was very impressed by Maryville tonight," Bellarmine Coach
Chris Tinius said. "They played well and seemed much more invested in the game from start to finish. We had two great chances to win the game, one in the second half and one in overtime, and their goalkeeper made some phenomenal saves. I will stop short of a full congratulations because I think that would actually be a bit disrespectful. I'm sure they think they could have won the game, and I wouldn't disagree."
Ferry's goal came in the 42nd minute when she headed in a rebound off a stop by Riddle. Ferry scored the game-winning goal in Bellarmine's 2-1 double-overtime victory over then-No. 2 Grand Valley State in the team's season opener.
Maryville tied it up after halftime when Alex Johnson got free in the center of the box and hit from 8 yards out in the 61st minute.
"This is why I said in the season preview I think we will be a very good team by October: We have a lot of young players that we will be counting on, and we have capable returners that still have to learn how to stretch their minutes with consistency," Tinius said. "One win last weekend doesn't change that. Training this week was a reminder that this is a process, as was tonight."
Bellarmine will host Missouri S&T at noon (ET) Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
"I think we will be just fine, but we have a tough task ahead," Tinius said. "Being at home on the back end of a split weekend isn't fun. We have to travel through the middle of the night just to play at home, and Missouri S&T will be itching to get after us just like Maryville was tonight."
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