BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Moravian College women's soccer team fell to Penn State-Berks 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon on the HUB Quad after the Nittany Lions scored three goals in the second half.
The Greyhounds (5-7) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after freshman defender Christine Miklas scored her fourth goal of the season by heading in a corner kick taken by sophomore midfielder Taylor Blake in the 14th minute.
After a Lions equalizer in the 53rd minute, Moravian again took the lead in the 57th when senior midfielder Taylor DiSora played a perfect through ball to sophomore midfielder Melissa Pavia, who slotted it home for the 2-1 lead and her second goal of the season.
Penn State-Berks then score two unanswered goals in the 69th and 77th minutes, and received some help from their crossbar to help fend off the Greyhounds. Shots from Miklas and freshman forward Valentina Margiottiello rocketed off the Lions' crossbar in the second half as the Lions held on for the 3-2 victory.
Immediately after the match, head coach Brienne Smith met with her coaching staff and the Moravian seniors on the same field that saw them give away two separate leads moments earlier.
"We need to respond to adversity," Smith said. "The meeting was about realizing this is your senior year; this is your team. The talent is there, we just need to figure out how to fix this and buy in to what we're capable of accomplishing. We need to set the bar higher for ourselves and hold each other accountable in getting there."
The Greyhounds outshot the Lions 15-13, and two of those shots were inches away from changing the final score. Miklas stepped up to a direct free kick in the second half and ripped a shot toward the Penn State-Berks goal, which careened of the bar and rocketed skywards back into play.
Margiottiello then created her own space inside the Lions' box in the 81st minute, and her right-footed blast shook the crossbar and bounced down inside the six-yard box before being cleared from danger.
The difference in the match came from a dynamic duo of Lion freshmen. Dana Sarcinello scored her 13th goal of the season and Simone Stewart tallied her 11th.
"They have a couple of kids that can make you pay," Smith said. "You can't let a team like this back into the game."
Senior goalkeeper Genevieve Chaleff was involved in the meeting on the field after making three saves and holding the Lions scoreless in the first half. Sophomore Jacqueline Zalis made three saves and took the loss after playing the second half.
Pavia led the team in shots, taking three and putting two of them on goal. Miklas put the Greyhounds' only other shot on goal with her tally in the 14th minute.
Miklas also came up with a huge play on the defensive end in the 36th minute when Chaleff was out of the box and the Lions took a quick shot. Miklas came swooping in to boot the ball away off the goal line to prevent Penn State-Berks from equalizing in the first half.
The Greyhounds continue Landmark Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 12 when Drew University comes to the HUB Quad at 1 p.m.
"We have a big point to make with Drew," Smith said of the 9-1 Rangers. "They are top of the pack, and we can send a big message to the conference that we're not going to turn over."
