Following an early Saints' goal, Kiki D'Anza's first career goal in the 43rd minute off a first career assist from Emma Audi, proved to be the game-winner as the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team battled to a 2-1 win over DeSales University on Saturday afternoon at Sandy MacAllaster Field.

St. Lawrence improved to 1-0-1 on the season with the win, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-2-0.

The Scarlet and Brown picked up where they left off in yesterday's contest swarming on the offensive end. In the 7th minute of the contest, Lily Pleau took the ball down the left wing before centering a ball into the DeSales box. Junior Emma Casey was on the receiving end of the pass which she rifled past goalkeeper Jozlyn Minnema to take the early lead.

The Saints kept pushing with a pair of good attempts from Madison King-Thurber and Kaitlyn Barton later in the half. In the 26th minute, St. Lawrence nearly doubled their lead when first-year Barrett Freeman had a step on the Bulldogs' defense and made a run for the goal. Her right-footed shot barely missed the left side of the net keeping the score at 1-0.

The Scarlet and Brown would eventually break through for their second goal late in the half in the 43rd minute. Captain Mia Cence had the ball in the midfield where she floated a pass up to Audi in the box. After a bounce, the sophomore sent a pass across the face of the goal to K. D'Anza, who tapped the goal into the net for her first collegiate goal and point. It was also the first assist and point for Audi in her second career game.



Sensing the game slipping away, the Bulldogs turned up the pressure in the second half with a 10-6 edge in shots after being outshot 10-7 in the first half. DeSales was able to get four shots on Keely Snode but were turned away.

The Bulldogs finally broke through the Saints' defense in the 85th minute capitalizing on a handball. Following a handball violation, DeSales was awarded a free kick to the left side of the St. Lawrence goal outside the box. Elizabeth McCarthy sent a perfect pass into the box where Catherine Crampton was there to head it home to cut the Saints' lead in half.

The Scarlet and Brown would lock up on the defensive end the rest of the way to secure the victory.

Snode finished with the win making six saves on the day, while Minnema stopped four of the six shots she faced.

DeSales finished with the narrow 17-16 edge in shots and 7-6 advantage in shots on goal with their second half attack. They also had seven corner kicks to St. Lawrence's four.

The Scarlet and Brown won't be back at Sandy MacAllaster Field until September 30, but they will be back in the North Country on Tuesday, September 5 when the Saints take on SUNY Potsdam at the Maxcy Hall Turf Field at 7:00 p.m.