BELOIT, Wis. – Maggie Wood (Bangkok, Thailand) scored the only goal of the match in the 65th minute as the Beloit College women's soccer team held off Knox 1-0 this afternoon at the Strong Complex Soccer Field.
The Buccaneers (2-5-1, 1-0-1 MWC) were outplayed for much of the first half but came out of halftime with far more attacking energy. They took nine of their 12 shots after the break and made it count.
With the match scoreless deep into the second half, Wood delivered the decisive moment at 65:23. The midfielder's goal was unassisted and was the fourth of her season. Beloit had been pressing for most of the second half, and Wood's finish gave the Buccaneers the lead they would not surrender.
Wood was involved in the attack beyond the goal. She finished with two shots, both on target, and played 72 minutes. Her other attempt, in the 70th minute, forced a save from Knox goalkeeper Darby Wallig.
Goalkeeper Sophia Dietz (Schaumburg, IL) earned the shutout and the win, playing all 90 minutes. Her four saves all came in the first half, when Knox controlled much of the play and put six shots on the Buccaneers. She turned aside efforts from Natalia Nuño, Eliana Juarez, Sophia Fallacara and Sophia Gordoa to keep the game scoreless at the break.
In the second half, Beloit's back line kept Knox (5-5-0, 3-1-0 MWC) to four shots, and none of them tested Dietz. Zyana Turcios (Elmwood Park, Ill.) and Sydney Rausch (Boise, ID) each played the full 90 minutes.
Grace Christos (Valporariso, IN) was one of Beloit's most active attackers, leading the team with four shots, two of them on target.
Beloit outshot Knox 12-10 and held a 7-4 edge in shots on target. Knox had the advantage in possession (56%-44%) and corner kicks (6-4). Beloit was called for 12 fouls to Knox's nine, and neither team was shown a card.
Wallig made six saves for Knox in the loss.
The Buccaneers travel to Mount Vernon, Iowa on Saturday to face off against the Rams of Cornell College. Kick off from Cornell Soccer Field is set for 1:30 pm.
