Score: No. 1 Keiser Seahawks 3, St. Thomas Bobcats 1
Records: Keiser (7-0-2, 1-0-0), St. Thomas (4-5-2, 0-1-0)
Location: Arrigo-Vecellio Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Blanca Bachi and Luisa Fontes struck 32 seconds apart early in the second half, and Marta Filipe added a late insurance goal as Keiser opened Sun Conference play with a 3-1 win over St. Thomas on Saturday.
Keiser stayed unbeaten at 7-0-2 and moved to 1-0-0 in conference play, while the Bobcats fell to 4-5-2 overall and 0-1-0 in league action.
The scoreboard stayed level through the opening 45 minutes, though the play was anything but even - Keiser fired six shots at the St. Thomas goal while the Bobcats failed to register one, yet the Seahawks went to the break without a goal to show for their dominance.
The Seahawks wasted little time in their conference opener once the second half began. Bachi opened the scoring in the 46th minute, her third goal of the season, and Fontes doubled the lead just 32 seconds later off a feed from Ruby Vernon to make it 2-0.
St. Thomas answered in the 64th minute when Julia Ezcurra converted a Leenah Bigby assist to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Keiser had the last word. Filipe restored the two-goal cushion in the 83rd minute with an unassisted finish for her second goal of the year, sealing the 3-1 final.
Keiser finished with a commanding 16-4 edge in shots and an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal, while also holding a 7-0 margin in corner kicks. Mio Tanaka played all 90 minutes in goal for the win, improving to 7-0-2 on the season with two saves. Emma Butcher went the distance for St. Thomas in the loss, making five saves as her record fell to 1-4-2.
St. Thomas picked up four yellow cards over the final half hour - Julia Ezcurra (53:36), Sierra Olivo (56:32), Kyara Ormazabal (59:22) and Natalie Woodward (63:53). No Keiser players were carded.
Up next, the Seahawks will take on the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans at home at 11:00 AM.
- Keiser remains unbeaten on the season at 7-0-2 and opens conference play 1-0-0 with the win
- This marks the third straight Sun Conference opener for Keiser against St. Thomas, and the Seahawks have won all three meetings.
- Blanca Bachi and Luisa Fontes scored 32 seconds apart to open the second-half surge
- Ruby Vernon set up Fontes' goal and led all players with six shots
- Marta Filipe's unassisted strike in the 83rd minute sealed the result
- Julia Ezcurra's goal, assisted by Leenah Bigby, was St. Thomas' lone score
- Keiser out-shot St. Thomas 16-4 and held a 7-0 edge in corner kicks
- Mio Tanaka went the full 90 minutes and improved to 7-0-2 with two saves
- St. Thomas picked up four cautions
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