Sports
Marietta Falls To 0-2 In OAC
By: Brad Friedman
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The now first-place Mount Union Purple Raiders (9-2-1) proved to be too much for Marietta (2-9) to handle as the Pioneers dropped their home conference opener 4-0.
Before those in attendance could even get settled, Mount Union had put one in the back of the net. Marietta High School alumna Allison Fouss dribbled her way into the box and blasted in her fourth goal of the season just 40 seconds into the match.
The goal would be the only score of the half.
After Fouss’ goal, play settled down as the Purple Raiders only outshot the Pioneers 5-4. Mount Union remained aggressive, but their attackers were caught offside three times in the first half and seven times in the second.
Mount Union struck early in the second half when midfielder Carolyn Balzano buried an 18-yard blast in the 51st minute, her fifth on the year.
One minute, 22 seconds later, forward Shannon Evans took a Balzano cross into the box and placed a six-yard shot into the top left corner for her eighth score on the year.
To finish off the scoring, Balzano beat Marietta goalkeeper Kaitlyn Pearse one-on-one in the 78th minute from 18 yards out.
The Pioneers showed potential in the offensive half, but were still outshot 12-8 on the day while only earning two corner kicks to Mount Union’s nine.
Marietta travels to northern Ohio on Saturday at one to take on head coach Tracy Blasius’ old squad, the John Carroll Blue Streaks.