WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University women's soccer team battled Moravian to a scoreless draw on Saturday afternoon in difficult weather conditions.
The two teams battled in swirling rain and wind, with both struggling to create clear-cut scoring opportunities on the day.
Catholic's first chance of the day came in the third minute when senior Elana Alber was first to react to a bouncing ball in the penalty area but was unable to make the cleanest connection. As a result, the ball looped into the air and nearly dropped in under Payce Korpics' crossbar, but the goalkeeper reacted well to parry the effort away.
Ava Rieger was first called into the action in the 23rd minute, when she dove to her right to push a Hailey Scaff effort around her left-hand post direct from a free kick.
The Cardinals nearly benefited from a low-driven corner routine in the 25th minute. Lauren Cerda fizzed it into center of the area and it came off a Greyhound defender, deflecting toward Korpics' goal. Victoria Pou Varona had been stationed just in front of the goalkeeper on the corner, so Korpics was forced to look around the freshman and got a fist to the ball to prevent a wild own goal.
Catholic's best chance came just two minutes later when Emily Harkins served a delicious ball into the area from a deep crossing position. After Katarina Bauer was unable to control it via her chest, the ball nearly found its way to Pou Varona at the back post, but Korpics was quick off her line to smother it out for a corner ahead of the forward's attempted touch.
The best chance of the day for either side fell to Moravian's Sydney DeFranco in the 39th minute. After a half-clearance by Catholic, DeFranco latched onto a bouncing ball, blistering a half-volley that was destined for the side netting. Rieger, however, would not be beaten, sprawling athletically to her left to tip it around the post and maintain the deadlock.
The second half was much more cagey as Catholic did not register a shot on target and the Greyhounds managed only a single one.
Moravian had one final chance to win it on a quick counter attack in the 87th minute but Kyle Hughes' right-footed effort was pushed behind by Rieger, who took no chances on a shot that may have been going wide regardless.
It was a repeat of last year's matchup as the teams played to a goalless draw when the teams met in Bethlehem in 2022.
The Cardinals celebrated five seniors as Emily Branchide, Claudia DeMartino and Jordan Siok joined Alber and Cerda with starts on the day. Isabella DeAvila made her first appearance of the season after working her way back from an injury.
The Cardinals will now turn their to a non-conference battle with Gettysburg. Catholic will travel north to face the Bullets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
