MARIETTA, Ga. --- Following a Dalton State foul with less than six minutes to go, Junior forward
Daniela Cianchini kicked a long free kick that snuck past the goal keeper to connect on the miraculous, game-winning goal, giving the Running Eagles a season opening 2-1 victory over Dalton State Tuesday night at Lupo Family Field.
NOTES
• Life U starts its season on the right foot, moving on to 1-0, while Dalton State drops to 0-1.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Cianchini earned the team the victory by contributing the game winning goal, while taking three shots, two of which were on goal.
• Freshman
Thora Hreggvidsdottir got her Running Eagle career off to a great start, recording a first half goal off of her game-high seven shots and two shots on goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Dalton State put the pressure on the Life U back line in the first three minutes, taking two corner kicks and three of their seven total shots in an early offensive push. Life U quickly turned the momentum around as Hreggvidsdottir smashed a kick into the upper left corner of the goal from deep in the right corner of the field off a crisp pass from
Niamh Halloren. The Running Eagles maintained its early momentum through the remainder of the half, not allowing Dalton State to take another shot through the period, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.
• The Roadrunners, similar to the first half, came out fast to start the second, taking two shots over the first five minutes before knotting the game up at 1-1 off a far side goal. Following the goal, Life U upped its defensive intensity only allowing Dalton State one other attempt at a goal. The Running Eagles found many good looks through the remainder of the half, but were unable to connect on the goal until Cianchini finally got the game-winning goal to sneak in with just under six minutes in regulation. With a 2-1 lead and only a few minutes to play, Life U boosted its shot count as it kept pressure on the Roadrunners, closing the game out for the 2-1 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U held a commanding advantage in shots taken at 18-7, while that was also reflected in the shots on goal at 8-3.
• Dalton State led in saves, collecting six to Life U's two.
• In what was an incredibly physical game, the teams tied at 10 fouls each, while Dalton State earned one more yellow card than the Running Eagles at 2-1.
UP NEXT
• After kicking off the season tonight, the women next hit the road, facing Brewton-Parker in Mount Vernon, Ga. at 7 PM Thursday night.
