BUFFALO, New York -- The Lake Erie women's soccer team played in their final non-conference match on Tuesday afternoon, coming away with a gritty 1-0 victory. Pitching their fourth shutout of the year, the Storm move to 4-1-1 overall, marking their best record through six games in program history since its start in 1998.
Game Recap
It was a slow start for the Storm offense, as shots from Isabella Carvalho in the 21st minute and Alice McKenna in the 32nd, both off target, made up the entirety of the first period. The defense, however, held strong, fending off seven shots from the Saints offense, which looked dangerous for a team that had scored just once in its first five games. Redshirt sophomore Mia Halverson made her first collegiate start in goal and came up with two saves in the half. With both offenses held scoreless, it set the stage for an exciting second period.
After just two shots in the first 45 minutes, Lake Erie came out of the break with new energy, firing four shots in the opening 11 minutes of the second half. Freshman Makena Kramer made the most of her chance, finishing a pass from Carvalho for her first collegiate goal in what proved to be the game-winner. While the Storm offense piled on opportunities—taking a season-high 11 shots in the period—only Kramer's strike found the net. The defense once again stood tall, holding the Saints to just two second-half looks, both saved by Morgan Vanmeter. Through six games, the Storm have now posted four shutouts and allowed just four total goals—the first time either mark has been reached in a season since 2019.
The Matchup
This was the tenth all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Storm moving to a commanding 9-1 advantage and claiming their eighth win in a row. D'Youville's lone victory came back in 2002. Last season, Lake Erie won 4-0 at home behind goals from Kim Lorenz, Caley Biddinger, and two from Leonie Witt.
Looking Ahead
With non-conference play wrapped up, the Storm now shift fully into G-MAC competition. They'll continue their road trip on Saturday in Canton against Malone, who sit at 2-2-1 after a recent win over Tiffin. The Pioneers will look to replicate last year's result, when they edged Lake Erie 1-0 in Painesville.
