Brynn McGarvey's (Meridian, Idaho/Rocky Mountain H.S.) goal with 12:39 to play lifted Lourdes to a 2-1 season-opening victory over Rio Grande on Wednesday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.
The victory marks the first in a season opener for the Gray Wolves since downing LaRoche to begin the 2018 campaign. It also marked the first win in a home opener for Lourdes since defeating Mount Vernon Nazarene to begin the 2016 home slate.
"It is great to start the season with a win," head coach
Jackie Phillips said afterwards. "We have a lot of things to continue to work out but starting 1-0 is the goal."
Lourdes took the lead in the 20
th minute. Following a Red Storm turnover,
Chloe Shaffer (Rossford, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) played the ball ahead to
Kayla Dillinger (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney H.S.), who scored going one-on-one with goalkeeper Morgan Nutter.
The Gray Wolves took the 1-0 lead into halftime, outshooting the Red Storm 8-3 in the opening stanza.
Rio Grande (0-1) tied the match 6:57 out of halftime, as Lieve Sanders took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Gray Wolves and knocked the ball in the back of the net.
The match remained tied until the 78
th minute when McGarvey connected with
Abigail Mann (Toledo, Ohio/Southview H.S.) on a give-and-go in the box, scoring on the return feed just in front of the goal line.
The Gray Wolves finished the match with a 23-8 shot advantage with
Emmy Rodger (Romeo, Mich./Romeo H.S.) making four saves in the victory. Nutter had nine stops in the setback for Rio Grande.
Lourdes (1-0) will have 10 days off before taking to the road to face Roosevelt on Sept. 3. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Morris Field in Arlington Heights, Ill.
