WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic women's soccer got back into the win column on Wednesday night with a 1-0 victory over Susquehanna. The Cardinals improved to 5-4-2 while Susquehanna dropped to 4-6-2. 

Catholic found the game-winner in the 34th minute as Payton Hardy's header proved to be all the offense Casey Sommers' team needed. Teighan Boyle set up for a free kick just outside Catholic offensive third and played a beautiful ball into the box. Hardy was in the perfect spot and redirected the ball into the bottom right corner of the net past an outstretched Katie Henchy. The goal was the first of the season for Hardy and the third of her career. 

Henchy finished the match with five saves for the River Hawks as the contest remained 1-0 for the final 66-plus minutes. The Cardinals held an overall shot advantage of 10-3 while lining up for the only two corner kicks of the match. 

Ava Gregorio put three shots on target as a reserve, but Henchy saved all three. Angelina Serrano and Isabel Doherty both logged shots on goal. All three of Henchy's first half saves were on Gregorio shots coming in the 35th, 39th, and 42nd minutes. Doherty had a look in the 60th minute and Serrano's shot in the 84th was saved. 

Ava Rieger picked up her 16th career win and 19th career shutout on Wednesday. Her seven clean sheets in 2024 are just two shy of her 2023 total in four less games. The junior is three saves away from 150 for her career and one shutout away from tying Kim Stengle ('06) for second in program history. 

Catholic hits the road for three straight Landmark Conference affairs. Next up the Cardinals will play in Madison, N.J. at Drew on Saturday afternoon.