Sea Gulls suffer first setback of the 2010 season

SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University women's soccer team suffered its first setback of the 2010 season with a 1-0 loss to Fredonia State University on Friday afternoon at the SU Soccer Complex.

The Sea Gulls (1-1) played strong in the first half as they created several quality scoring opportunities. SU's best opportunity of the first half came in the 19th minute as sophomore midfielder Casey Hafford collected a played ball just outside the 18-yard box. The Towson, Md., native flicked the ball over the on-rushing Fredonia goalkeeper, but the ball grazed off the cross-bar and out of play for a Fredonia goal kick. In the first half, Salisbury held a 10-2 advantage in shots and garnered four corner kicks; Fredonia State had no corner kick opportunities.

The two teams battled back and forth in the early part of the second half before the Blue Devils (2-0) scored the game's only goal in the 66th minute. Fredonia forward Katie Kleine dodged a Sea Gull defender just outside the 18-yard box and promptly played the ball over the head of SU sophomore goalie Melissa Orgera. The Sea Gulls did not go down easily, as they continued to pressure the Blue Devil backline. In the 75th minute, SU junior forward Sarah Jessilonis served in a ball from the right side of the box that found the foot of senior defender Shannon Donnelly. Donnelly cut in from the back post and volleyed the ball towards the right corner of the goal but Fredonia goalkeeper Kayleigh Forger pushed away the shot to keep the Sea Gulls at bay.

For the match, the Sea Gulls outshot the Blue Devils 16-7 and held a 7-2 corner kicks advantage. Orgera went the distance in the net for Salisbury and finished with three saves while Forger collected four saves in 90 minutes for the Blue Devils.

The Sea Gulls must regroup quickly as they are set to face No. 6 Johns Hopkins University on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the SU Soccer Complex. Fredonia State and Johns Hopkins will square off on Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of the SU Women's Soccer Classic.