Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For the majority of the season-opening match for the Eckerd women's soccer team, things looked to be well in their favor.
The Tritons controlled possession for most of the night and held a substantial edge in shots against visiting Colorado Christian, taking a 1-0 lead late into the contest after
Monique Elliott opened the scoring in the 58th minute.
However, the Cougars found the equalizer with just over six minutes left to play, and a pair of late attempts by Eckerd came up short as the Tritons settled for a 1-1 draw on Friday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Elliott's goal was set up by a long ball from the foot of
Michelle Spesshardt down the left side to
Alice Wader. Wader carried the ball into the box and sent a low cross to Elliott, who touched it past her defender and beat CCU keeper Shaya Lawrence just underneath the crossbar.
It looked like her goal would hold up until the 83rd minute, when CCU's Mollie Monson got free down the left side and crossed the ball into the box. Eckerd keeper
Angelique Ulmer had a bead on the ball but it slipped out of her reach to an unmarked Sheridan Spelman, who sent the equalizer into the center of the net.
The Tritons had two more good looks in the final six minutes, but chances from
Abby Sanchez and
Francesca Larrain were stopped by Lawrence.
Earlier in the second half, Sanchez ripped a shot from 25 yards out to the far post. It richoted off the post into the center of the box, but the Tritons were unable to get another shot. It was one in a series of near misses for EC, which saw several offerings go just wide or over the frame.
Overall, sixth-year head coach
Danielle Fotopoulos was pleased with her team's performance although she noted definite areas for improvement.
"We played well," she said after the match. "We let in a soft goal toward the end and talked about tightening up defense. But we had some good chances we didn't put away. Over the weekend we are going to work on finishing and get ready for Southeastern on Monday."
The Tritons outshot CCU, 14-5, and held a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. Ulmer stopped two shots in her first start in goal for Eckerd.
Eckerd has little rest before hitting the field again on Monday night, hosting Southeastern (Fla.) at 7:00 PM.
Â
