BOX SCORE
Julie Vigliotti's Goal
Briana Vassallo's Goal
Jackie Nicholas' Goal
Lauren Goodhue's Goal
Head Coach Mike Minelli On The Win
Staten Island, NY – Four different Seahawks scored their first goals of the season, as the Wagner women’s soccer team defeated Howard University 4-1 at Wagner Stadium.
The Seahawks got on the board early in the opening half, when freshman
Rachel Reeves (East Northport, NY) served a cross from the right flank into the box where
Julie Vigliotti (Staten Island, NY) was waiting. Vigliotti took the ball down and placed a shot into the side netting past Howard keeper Cheyra Bell.
Wagner didn’t hold the lead for long, as just five minutes later the Bison evened the score. Howards Rachael Lee blasted a shot from the 12-yard mark, which was saved Wagner goalie
Katie Marcy (Bellmore, NY), but the rebound came right to Cynthia Snyder who slotted her bid past a diving Marcy to even the score at one apiece.
The offensive fury continued throughout the opening half, as Wagner regained its lead in the 19th minute. Vigliotti played a slick through ball to fellow striker
Briana Vassallo (Saddle Brook, NJ), who split the defense and placed her shot past Bell for her first goal of the year.
Wagner outshot the visiting Bison 14-6 in the first half, forcing Bell to make six saves. Marcy recorded three stops for the Seahawks in the first 45 minutes.
Both teams played a physical second half, with each team having quality scoring chances. The Bison had the first scoring opportunity of the second, after a long shot found the cage, but a diving Marcy made the stop.
Wagner opened up the second stanza scoring in the 68th minute as
Jackie Nicholas (Rockville Centre, NY) ran onto a through ball from Vassallo. The freshman dodged the oncoming goalie and placed her shot into the open net to notch her first collegiate goal and give the Seahawks the 3-1 lead.
Lauren Goodhue (Independence, NJ) got in on the scoring in the final three minutes of the match, when a rebounded shot off Bell came right to her feet. The junior one-timed her shot past a sprawling Bison keeper for her first goal of the young season.
The Seahawks outshot Howard 24-12 on the day and had nine corner kick opportunities, compared to the Bison’s six.
The game against Howard was also a fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. Prior to the contest, local breast cancer survivors were recognized by the Wagner community for what they have overcome. The women’s soccer team raised $429 through admission donations and raffle prizes that will go directly towards the fight against breast cancer.