ST. LOUIS – Maryville women's soccer defeated Quincy University on Friday evening behind a goal in the 80th minute from captain Kennedy Reeser. The Union, Mo. native took a pass from Lexi Gentry and sent it past the Hawks goalkeeper to give the Saints their second win of the season.
 
The two teams exchanged shots on goal through the first 15 minutes of the game, but both goalies were up to the task. Tori Calvert fired another one on in the 16th minute, turned away again by Olivia Kindt.
 
Two-thirds of the way through the first half, Sara Lawler found a bouncing ball off of a corner kick and sent it slightly over the net with a header. Madison Canoy continued to apply pressure, sending a ball from a tough angle off the crossbar five minutes later.
 
The Hawks took the more possession of the ball in the first half's final minutes, but Maryville rebounded in the 60th minute from a pair of shots from Canoy and Reeser.
 
The hunt for the game's first goal continued a few minutes later with another ball on target from Canoy. Ashlyne Hunt nearly found Amanda Kopp for a goal 10 minutes later, but Kopp missed wide of a diving goalkeeper.
 
Another rush later found an open Tori Calvert in the box. The sophomore fired a shot that was stopped by Kindt, rebounded by Gentry, and put in the back of the net by Reeser to give the Saints a 1-0 lead with nine minutes to play.
 
The Hawks took two more desperate shots in the last couple of minutes, but Maryville hung on for the win to move their 2022 record to 2-1 through the first three games. The victory additionally gave goalkeeper Katie Nash her sixth career shutout after she made four crucial saves to blank the visitors. 

"We are happy to have squeaked out a victory against a very tough Quincy side," said Head Women's Soccer Coach Lori Chalupny. "I thought we defended really well as a unit tonight and we expect the offensive side will become more crisp in the coming weeks. It was a great team effort."

Maryville women's soccer will look to continue its hot start to the season on Thursday, Sept. 8, in a non-conference matchup against the University of Missouri – St. Louis Tritons. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Maryville Soccer Field.