SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Saint Michael's College women's soccer team opened the 2024 campaign with a 2-0 victory against Shippensburg University on Saturday at David See Field. Juniors Bella DelVecchio (Saugus, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) and Faith Kosiba (Dunstable, Mass./Groton-Dunstable Regional) both scored goals to propel the Purple Knights to victory.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (1-0), Shippensburg (0-2)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Junior Bella DelVecchio (Saugus, Mass./Bishop Fenwick), 1 goal
• Junior Faith Kosiba (Dunstable, Mass./Groton-Dunstable Regional), 1 goal
• Senior Nathalie Larsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Sjölins Gymnasium/Morningside), 1 assist
• Junior Juliana Anastopoulos (Chestnut Hill, Mass./Brookline), 5 saves

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Redshirt First-Year Kirstin Brown, 3 saves

GAME FACTS

• The Purple Knights won their first opening-day contest since 2021 after tying the two previous openers.
• Both squads took eight shots on the afternoon, while Shippensburg held a 10-2 advantage on corner kicks.
• Anastopoulos recorded her first shutout of the season, and the fourth of her career.

THE ACTION

• DelVecchio scored in the 21st minute of the match with a strike from outside the box that slipped past the host goalkeeper to give the Purple Knights a 1-0 lead.
• Anastopoulos stopped the only Shippensburg attempt of the first half in the 36th minute to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.
• Anastopoulos began the second half with a save in the 48th minute to stop the home squad from equalizing.
• Kosiba doubled Saint Michael's lead in the 53rd minute with a goal on the volley off a failed clear attempt to give the Purple Knights a 2-0 lead.
• Anastopoulos made two saves in the final third of the match, including a crucial stop in the 87th minute to maintain the shutout.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Monday at Post University, 1:30 p.m.