VIANNA, W.V. –
Jinan Abdalah Funes scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the Mercyhurst Women's soccer team defeated non-conference opponent Ohio Valley 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
Mercyhurst's three goals were the most scored by the Lakers in a game this season since Sept. 3 against Lock Haven when they scored six.
The Lakers put pressure on the Fighting Scots early by earning three corner kicks and firing two shots on net in the game's first eight minutes. Mercyhurst's aggression in the offensive half was finally rewarded in the 18
th minute thanks to senior
Rebekah Craig. Craig netted her team-leading third goal of the season with an assist awarded to
Maya Bauer and the Lakers took the 1-0 lead.
Mercyhurst did not let up pressure after scoring. They continued to dominate possession on the offensive side of the pitch. The Lakers fired ten shots in the first half and did not allow the Fighting Scots to shoot once. Of those ten Laker shots, the final one of the half also found its way into the back of the net. Abdalah Funes doubled the Laker lead to 2-0 in the 37
th minute on her third tally of the season.
Maya Fanazini earned the helper on the goal and the Lakers took their 2-0 lead into the half.
Ohio Valley finally earned its first shot of the game in the 51
st minute and shortly after, the Fighting Scots got their first goal of the afternoon. Jenifer Media scored her fourth goal of the season in the 66
th minute to cut the Laker lead back to one.
After the Ohio Valley score, Mercyhurst fended off a couple of corner kick opportunities to keep OVU at bay. With the game winding down, Abdalah Funes sealed the deal with her second of the game in the 86
th minute and put away the Fighting Scots 3-1. The multi-goal game was the second of the season for Funes. She scored two goals against Lock Haven on Sept. 3.
Maia Russo set up Funes for the goal and earned the assist.
The Lakers (5-3-1, 4-3-1) get back to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action on their home turf this weekend when they host Pitt-Johnston Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.