LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Maryville survived a tough opening match to begin CCS play with a 1-1 draw at Covenant on Wednesday night.
The Maryville Scots lost on this ground 1-0 two years ago, and Covenant grabbed the early advantage this night when the visitors were whistled for a handball in the penalty area in the seventh minute. Covenant's Leah Marr converted from the spot for her first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Maryville tied it 1-1 in the 55th minute when
Sierra Lee was set up from close range. A Maryville free kick toward the box found the foot of
Hannah Smoot in front. Smoot redirected the pass to a wide-open Lee, and she one-timed it past the lone defender and Covenant goalkeeper for her third goal of the season.
"It was good to come from behind and get a point on the road," Maryville head coach
Pepe Fernandez said. "We are really happy for the most part. We forced them into long shots and held their chances down. We also created some very good chances tonight."
The last seven minutes were end-to-end. First Covenant's Marr fired a free kick off the underside of the cross bar that somehow stayed out, and then Maryville countered with
Madison McDonald being denied in a one-on-one opportunity at the edge of the penalty area.
McDonald and Smoot both contributed three shots for Maryville, with
Anne Marie Konieczny adding two. Lee's goal came on her only shot attempt and the goal ups her career total to 21.
Covenant held a 15-11 advantage in shots, while corner kicks favored Maryville 7-2. Maryville's
Sophie Turner made eight saves to the four for Covenant's Ludy Sandhoff. Ball possession for the match was 50-50.
Maryville is now 4-1-3 overall and 0-0-1 in the CCS, while Covenant moves to 1-1-4 and 1-0-1. Maryville is back in action Sunday at home against LaGrange in a 3 p.m. start.
