Black Knights Blank Air Force on the Road

Friday, September 8

USAF Academy, Colo.

8 p.m. (6 p.m. MT)

Army West Point

2-3-1

Air Force

2-4

Army West Point

Air Force

Black Knights Blank Air Force on the Road

September 08, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

USAF Academy, Colo. – Army West Point women's soccer captains Clare Shea and Brianna Nicholas connected in the 37th minute to propel the Black Knights to a 1-0 victory at service-academy rival Air Force on Friday evening.

The Black Knights improved to 2-3-1 on the year, while Air Force dropped to 2-4-0.

After Air Force controlled the first 15 minutes, Army went on the offensive with multiple chances in the attacking third. Lauren McGovern provided the first scoring opportunity after taking a pass at the edge of the box from Nicholas, but saw her shot ring off the post in the 23rd minute.

Less than five minutes later, Madison McGinn stole the ball away from the Falcons' keeper and centered the ball to McGovern. The Air Force defense closed quickly, however, and prevented the Denver native from getting a clear shot at the empty net.

Army's captains connected to put the Black Knights ahead 1-0 in the 37th minute. Shea sent the ball forward to Nicholas who went in alone on the goalie and placed her shot inside the left post to give the Black and Gold a one-goal advantage.

The Black Knights were able to weather the storm in the second half after being outshot 8-2 in the final 45 minutes and 19-4 in the match. Rookie goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia documented her best performance of the season in her first action against another service academy, notching a season-high six saves in the shutout victory. Her biggest save of the night came in the 58th minute when she blocked a point-blank shot from Kristen Shimkus.

Army had a scare early in the second half when Air Force thought it had tied things at one apiece, but the ball was ruled out of bounds prior to the goal being scored. The Cadets used that momentum to go back on the attack, generating a pair of quality chances in the 55th minute. A free kick taken by Sydney Witham was crossed in for a header by Shea before first-year Erynn Johns followed up and fired a shot off the rebound.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights earned their first win at Air Force since a 1-0 overtime victory in 1993.
Army improves to 8-6-1 in the all-time series with Air Force.
This was Army's first win over the Falcons since 2006.
Senior co-captain Brianna Nicholas netted her first goal of the season in the first half.
Rookie goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia posted her third shutout of the season.
Cassalia recorded a season-high six saves in her first contest against another service academy.
Junior forward Nikiay Comer made her season-debut tonight and documented a shot on goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

At 36:17, senior co-captain Clare Shea sent her fellow team captain Brianna Nicholas a brilliant through ball in alone on goal. Nicholas then collected it before blasting it home inside the left post for the game's lone goal.

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