Box Score Lawrenceville, NJ – The Wagner women's soccer team earned a thrilling 1-0 road victory over Rider on Monday night, thanks to a dramatic late goal from sophomore defender
Hailey Knapp in the 89th minute.
Wagner controlled much of the opening 45 minutes, dominating possession and applying consistent pressure on Rider's back line. The Seahawks generated more attacking opportunities, but despite outshooting the Broncs and earning multiple corners, both teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
Wagner ramped up its offensive intensity in the second half. Freshman
Vanessa Lovisa and sophomore
Alana Arjona each registered multiple shot attempts as the Seahawks continued to search for a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Wagner's defense, anchored by graduate student
Clara Looney, senior
Faith Andree, and standout keeper
Shae McGinty, stood firm to keep Rider off the scoresheet.
With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, the breakthrough finally came. Defender
Hailey Knapp, who played the full 90 minutes, surged forward and capitalized on a loose ball inside the box, bringing home the game-winner in the 89th minute to give the Seahawks' first win of the season.
McGinty recorded her first clean sheet of the campaign behind a disciplined Wagner back line that limited Rider to just 5 total shots and 2 shots on goal.
Knapp's winner marked her first career goal for the Seahawks and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Wagner will return home to host their next opponent, Manhattan on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. looking to build on this momentum and notch back-to-back victories.
