written by Colleen Loftus communications student assistant

WASHINGTON- The Lady Cardinals suffered their first loss of the 2014 season on Saturday as they fell 2-1 to the Sea Gulls on the CUA soccer field.

Catholic came out strong and scored within the first ten minutes of play. Junior Kirsten Wosleger got footing on a rebound ball off a Sea Gulls defender, drilling a shot into the right corner of the net. Up 1-0, the Lady Cards matched Salisbury with six total shots in the first half. Catholic worked three corner kicks before the half, and came out with equal determination to score after halftime.

The second half brought six more shots for Catholic, in addition to two more corners. However, the key player of the second half for the Lady Cardinals was junior goalkeeper Lexi Halperin. Halperin recorded a total of eight saves in the outing, six of which came in the second half. In the final ten minutes, the starter made two outstanding saves in the home net, punching each over the crossbar to keep the pressing Sea Gulls scoreless. Halperin's saves in the game gave her a total 180 in her Catholic career, breaking the standing record of 177 saves set by Kim Stengle from 2003-06.

Unfortunately, the Lady Cards lost control of the offense in the final three minutes of play. Salisbury's Victoria Luc tied the game with a low ball into the net, and Samantha Beck headed a ball into the goal off a corner kick with 45 seconds left in the game. The final score read 2-1 in favor of Salisbury.

"To put it simply, giving up two goals in the final three minutes is just unacceptable," Head Coach J.P Sousa said. "I believe we are better than today's result. It is unfortunate to lose, and the girls are disappointed, but in the end it is just one game and we will learn a lot from this."

The CUA women's soccer team will host Mary Washington on Tuesday, September 23 at 4:30 p.m. on the CUA Soccer Field.

-CUA-