No. 23 Fairmont State secure 1-0 victory over Point Park
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The 23rd-ranked Fairmont State women’s soccer team defeated Point Park 1-0 on Wednesday at Duvall-Rosier Field in Mountain East Conference play. The Falcons finished with advantages of 22-5 in shots and 8-3 in shots on goal, while recording three saves in the shutout.
Fairmont State recorded 10 first-half shots, including five efforts that required a save or team save, but the match remained scoreless at halftime. The Falcons built sustained pressure from 12:08 to 21:59, when Emelly Chicas, Braylyn Sparks, Sam Yuen and Arrington Sparks combined for five shots; Yuen hit the top woodwork, and Nicole Kuchinski saved attempts by Yuen and Arrington Sparks.
Olivia Johnston kept the Pioneers off the board with saves in the 25th and 40th minutes, while the Falcons added chances from Arrington Sparks and Stephanie Pedias during the middle stretch. The Falcons earned a late corner at 43:49 and had Maria Day’s 44:16 shot stopped by a Pioneers team save, sending the match to halftime at 0-0.
The Falcons broke through in the 66th minute, when Payton Parliament scored off Chicas’ assist to move the home side in front 1-0. Early in the second half, the Pioneers had the first shot of the half, but the Falcons answered with sustained pressure, including two Yuen attempts and a run of shots from Valentina Gianinetto, Arrington Sparks, Chicas, Braylyn Sparks and Dayra Dinarte around a 62nd-minute corner.
After the goal, the Falcons continued to create chances, with Serenity Thomas shooting wide and Lyndy Van Horn putting a shot on frame that Nicole Kuchinski saved. Johnston made a save on the Pioneers’ 76th-minute chance, and the Falcons added two late corners before finishing the half and the match with the 1-0 scoreline.
Parliament scored on her only shot and recorded the game-winning goal. Johnston played all 90 minutes in goal, made three saves and finished with a shutout.
Fairmont State (5-0-1, 3-0-1) travels to Wheeling University on Sunday, September 20 to continue MEC play. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.
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