DES MOINES, IA - Grand View got the only goal it needed in the first half, as Dakota Enikova's first career goal held up for a 1-0 win over Baker (KS) on the Vikings' home field.
Baker came out with the early pressure, forcing a save from Maya Fritz in the third minute, while the Wildcats backline turned away a Grand View corner kick chance of their own. The game settled into a physical, back-and-forth stretch through the middle of the half, with Baker firing wide for Baker in the 12th minute before the Vikings began to find room going forward.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, as Enikova buried her first goal of the season off an assist from Riley Pryor to give Grand View a 1-0 lead. Baker tried to answer right away, forcing a save out of Fritz less than a minute later, but the Vikings defense and Fritz held firm the rest of the half, with Fritz turning aside another look in the 35th minute.
Baker came out flying to start the second half, peppering the Grand View goal with four shots in the first 24 minutes. Two went wide, and Fritz stopped Cunningham on a shot in the 56th minute to keep the Wildcats off the board. Grand View got a chance of its own from Riley Pryor, who saw a shot sail high in the 64th minute.
The Wildcats kept pressing in search of an equalizer, but Fritz stood tall throughout, stopping 4 shots down the stretch to preserve the shutout. Grand View had a couple of late looks as well, with Dayana Espinoza and Taylor Pattee both denied in the closing minutes, but the Vikings backline and Fritz closed the door from there to secure the 1-0 win.
Fritz finished with seven saves in net to backstop the shutout for Grand View, while Enikova's first goal of her career, assisted by Pryor, proved to be the difference.
SCORING SUMMARY
MATCH NOTES
- Shots: Baker (KS) 11 (7 on goal), Grand View 6 (4 on goal)
- Saves: Sophia Holloway (Baker (KS)) 3, Maya Fritz (Grand View) 7
- Corner kicks: Baker (KS) 2, Grand View 1
- Fouls: Baker (KS) 9, Grand View 10
WHAT'S NEXT
Grand View will return to the Cownie Soccer Complex on September 15 for another conference match up against Graceland University.
