CHESTER, Pa. — Junior forward Sophie Kilbride’s shot in the 87th minute — what would prove to be Washington’s final shot of the match — found the net, sending the Shore ladies home from Widener College on Friday night with a 1-0 victory in women’s soccer.
This was the first match of 2025 for both sides.
Neither goalie — junior Olivia Allen (one save) for the visitors and freshman Araba Abanyie (three saves) for the host Pride — was tested much as only five of the match’s total 21 shots were on frame.
Kilbride finally solved Abanyie with 3 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, sliding in a shot from about 25 yards out into the lower left corner of the net.
Widener’s last shot of the night, in the 88th minute, was blocked by a Shore defender.
Since 2012, the Shore ladies are 12-0-1 in season openers.
On Sunday afternoon, Washington at home was defeated by No. 7-ranked Misercordia, 2-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Senior Haleigh Wintersteen lofted a shot into the upper right corner inside the far post for what held up as the winning goal in the fifth minute, and junior Lily Heistand added the insurance goal in the 60th minute when her shot from the left flank deflected off a defender and into the right pocket of the net.
Washington’s only shot on frame came in the 13th minute when Lauren Mondor was required to make a save on senior Maddy Gaydon’s try.
In the 30th minute, freshman Lily Barnum’s shot glanced off the right post and landed at the feet of Gaydon, whose putback sailed over the crossbar.
Washington matched Misercordia’s six shots in the first half, but was outshot over the remaining 45 minutes, 8-1.
Allen was credited with five saves in 80 minutes and change, before being spelled by senior Hailey Sharpe (one save).
Misercordia went 19-2-2 in 2024 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Shore ladies are on the road Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Salisbury. This will be the home opener for the Sea Gulls, who are 1-1 after splitting two matches at the weekend Seahawk Classic at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.