ELSAH, IL – The Golden Eagles of Spalding University came to Elsah from Kentucky for a highly competitive conference clash on Thursday evening. Missed chances and mistakes ended up being the difference in a evenly contested match between the two teams.
Principia had the chance to get on the board early, with a penalty kick awarded in the 2nd minute for a foul on Adriana Rucks. Viviane de Castro's ensuing shot was saved by the Golden Eagles' keeper to keep the game scoreless. The Panthers would heap the pressure on the visiting team, registering the next four shots, forcing blocks in the box and saves from Spalding.
All of the momentum would begin to swing when, in the 30th minute, a Spalding forward beat a Principia defender in the box and ripped a shot into the roof of the net. The 1-0 Spalding lead carried the game into the halftime break.
The Panthers came out fast in the second half, driving the Spalding defense back, and their hard work would pay off in the 60th minute. A controlled touch from Kannon Gill released Kaija Ufert down the sideline. Ufert found the red-hot Viviane de Castro on the edge of the box who took a couple of quick touches and found the back of the net. The goal was de Castro's team-leading seventh of the season and knotted the game at 1-1.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, they were unable to score again. Spalding responded to the goal with two late ones of their own, coming in the 74th and 83rd minutes off of defensive lapses from the Panthers. Saves from goalkeeper Renea Garza kept the game close, but in the end, the Golden Eagles attack was too much for Principia to hold off. The 3-1 loss drops the Panthers to 2-3 in conference.
Up Next: Principia travels to World Wide Technology Soccer Park in St. Louis where they will face Webster University on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
