Quentin M. Reed – Sports Information Graduate Assistant
SPARTANBURG, SC – The Pfeiffer women's (1-5-1, 0-2-1 CC) soccer team were shut out by the score of 1-0 in Conference Carolinas action against Converse (3-4, 2-2 CC) on Tuesday evening.
In the 1st minute sophomore Falcon goalkeeper Deidre Gilley was forced to make a save as Darby Boyd laid a shot on goal.
In the 3rd minute senior Katlyn Stevens sent a ball to a streaking Aaliyah Jackson. Jackson chased after it but the ball was just a bit out front and picked up by Valkyrie goalkeeper Josee Waitrovich.
A minute later Jackson again got off a hard shot that keeper Waitrovich saved.
In the 14th minute Boyd floated another shot on Gilley, but the Falcon keeper made the save.
Marcy Santana in the 20th minute took a free kick from 25 yards out, Brae Buster intercepted the ball from the Valkyries defense and took her own shot but again Waitrovich was there for the save.
Midway through the first stanza, Falcons defenders stole an errant ball and sent a nice through ball to Jackson but the senior forward couldn't get enough on her shot and it trickled wide.
The Valkyries got on the board in the 35th minute when Ella Ritchie's corner was deflected around by both teams but Mariah Elliot came up with the ball and passed it to her teammate Nicole Doolittle for a header that got by Gilley.
The last minute of the half saw the Falcons have a last chance opportunity to put the ball in the goal as Santana sent a cross to Kirsten Martin at the top of the box. Martin took a shot but again Waitrovich was there for another save.
The Falcons continued the attacking style in the second half but continued to be shut out on the scoreboard.
In the 51st minute, Jackson again got a shot off but Valkyrie defenders were there to block it out of bounds.
Jackson took a shot in the 56th minute from the left side of the goal but the Waitrovich was there again for the save.
Jennifer Baity set up for a corner kick in the 71st minute, Jackson headed the ball toward the goal but sent the ball high over the cross bar.
Gilley's stellar play shined in the 85th minute when Converse's Georgia Jones unloaded a rocket from 10 yards away that was stonewalled by the sophomore keeper.
A last opportunity for the Falcons came with less than a minute remaining in regulation. A foul and take down of Buster resulted in a Santana free kick but the shot went wide into the feet of the Valkyries to seal the 1-0 victory.
On the evening, Gilley faced 20 shots with ten shots on goal and had a career-high nine saves. The Falcons offense took 12 shots, with the five shots on target.
The Falcons return to action on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. as they host Conference Carolinas opponent Lees-McRae at N.E. Lefko Field.
