FULTON, Mo. - After a series of pop-up thunderstorms pushed kickoff back and brought the temperature down at the North Campus Athletic Complex, the women's soccer rivalry between William Woods (1-1-2) and Westminster (0-0-1) heated things back up as the crosstown foes dueled to a 0-0 draw on Friday night.
Although neither team showed long stretches of productive possession in the opening 15 minutes, Westminster had the upper hand from a momentum standpoint, but Woods had the only solid offensive chance in the stretch.
Megan Hughes tested Blue Jays goalkeeper Reagan Chigas in the sixth minute, but her shot to the low left corner was gathered.
The Owls turned the momentum in their favor after the quarter-hour mark, putting together a pair of tantalizing chances. In the 19th minute, Hughes found herself with the ball at her feet, back to goal just above the penalty kick spot. Unfortunately the sophomore wasn't able to turn on her defender to create a shot.
In the 29th minute, a well-timed give-and-go between
Maddy Schrader and
Tess Roberts opened up space for a cross by Schrader. Hughes trapped the cross and directed in onto the feet of Roberts, but her shot was saved by Chigas.
Chigas spotted the opportunity for a quick Westminster counterattack, and sent the ball long. A quick touch in the midfield found a racing Eastin Colyer, but
Belle Boschert was up to the task and saved Colyer's effort.
After the break, Woods kept up the pressure and nearly found a goal in the 58th minute. Roberts stepped up in the Owls attacking third and forced a turnover, but her cross from the right wing held up in the wind and was gathered by Chigas.
WWU almost struck again in the 62nd minute after earning a free kick 35 yards from goal. Hughes spotted her chance and rocketed a shot in, but Chigas was able to parry the attempt over the goal for a Woods corner.
As the final 20 minutes ticked over on the scoreboard, the pace of the match quickened as both teams searched for a goal. Woods began playing a more direct style, looking for long passes to break through in the final third. It nearly backfired, as Westminster found a quick counter opportunity in the 74th minute, but Colyer's shot sailed harmlessly left as Boschert had the goal covered.
The Owls held a 10-6 edge in shots on the night, although Westminster was more tidy with a 4-3 shots on goal advantage. William Woods returns to the NCAC on Sunday, hosting Southwestern Christian at 1 p.m.
