Mansfield, Pa. – The Mountaineers women's soccer team battled the Clarion University Golden Eagles to a 2-1 loss in Sunday afternoon's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action at Mansfield University's Soccer Field.
 
Clarion jumped on the board in the 17th minute to gain an early advantage. Veronika Veronika Noyszewski received a cross from Meliah Roman on the right wing, collected the ball at her foot and directed a shot from 8 yards out to the right side of the net for her first goal of the season. 
 
Three minutes later the Golden Eagles struck again. This time Meliah Roman dropped a pass back to Dani McNally from the right side of the 18-yard line. McNally took brought the ball to her left foot and then fired a shot to the left side past the diving effort of Brianna Roys. Clarion took that 2-0 lead into the half after peppering the net with 11 shots and allowing Mansfield to muster just two. 
 

Coaches Shaffer and Austin spoke with the team at the intermission and it seemed as though a whole new squad took the field for the second half. Just over three minutes into the new half, Bria Bittiger connected from Jaiden Dialma. Dialma threaded a through ball down the right wing to the foot of Bittiger who beat keeper to the left side for her first goal of the season, cutting it to a 2-1 game. 
 
Clarion responded with six consecutive shots over the next six minutes of play, but Roys and the Mountie backfield were able to handle the pressure. From the 60th minute on, Mansfield earned three corner kicks and pressured the Golden Eagles with five shots, showing a whole new energy as they were seeking a game-tying goal. One of those great opportunities came from the foot of Meghan Noone, which led to a string of corner kicks for the Mounties. Perhaps Mansfield's most dangerous look came in the 84th minute when Brianna Sicillia beamed a shot towards the left side of the net from about eight yards out. Clarion's keeper Krista Mosi was able to slide and get in front of the attempt to record her most crucial save late in the game, keeping the Mountaineers at bay.  Roys faced 25 saves and recorded 10 saves in her first collegiate start.


 
Mansfield helped to celebrate "Play With Pride Week," which is a nationwide initiative from United Soccer Coaches to celebrate the contributions of LGBT players, coaches, support staff, referees and fans to the game of soccer.
 
The Mountaineers return to action Wednesday with another home game as they host Millersville University at 4:30 p.m. on the Mansfield University Soccer Field. 
 
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