Women's Soccer Falls Short at Elmhurst

ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst women's soccer team scored a goal in each half and held off an aggressive Penn State Behrend squad for a 2-1 non-conference win on Friday evening.

The Blue Jays (3-0) remain undefeated on the season, narrowly escaping the Lions (1-2). Rachel Weyand (Butler, PA/Butler) netted the lone goal for Behrend, while Mackenzie Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) made five saves including stripping the ball from an Elmhurst forward off a breakaway in the 12th minute.

Kim Stanczak assisted both of the Blue Jays goals. She fed Courtney O'Keefe in the 19th minute and then assisted Emma Krick at the 65:24 mark for a 2-0 lead. Behrend didn't get on the scoreboard in the 86th minute but it wasn't due lack of chances.

In addition to Troyan's stop, Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) gave the Lions their best chance with 17:30 left in the opening half when she beat two defenders on the outside only to have her shot stopped with a diving save by Emily Gordon.

Behrend outshot Elmhurst 18-8 for the game and 13-4 in the second half. Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) had her shot from 35 yards out hit the bottom of the crossbar, off the goal line and back out with 17 minutes left to play.

Gordon made another diving save on a Bilka attempt and on the ensuing corner, her header hit the crossbar. The Lions did not let up. Jordan Oberlander's (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) header was saved on the goal line by a defender and Laura Schaeffer's (Erie, PA/General McLane) rebound shot was stopped by the same defender in the 79th minute.

With 85:25 showing on the clock, Weyand scored when the ball fell to her feet amongst a scramble in front of the box to make it 2-1. Nicole Evans (South Park, PA/South Park) had a chance to tie it with three minutes left, sending her shot over the crossbar from just six yards out.

Behrend returns to action on Sunday at North Central. Game begins at 12 p.m.