PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie women's soccer team welcomed Walsh for a mid-day showdown on Saturday, battling to a 1-1 draw. The Cavaliers controlled much of the game after scoring less than three minutes into play, but the Storm struck back in the second half with a goal from Ainsley MacKenzie. With the result, Lake Erie moves to 5-1-2 on the season and remains unbeaten in G-MAC play heading into Thursday's road trip to Ursuline.
Game Recap
In the first half, Walsh looked the stronger side, consistently creating chances while holding the Storm to just one shot in the opening 45 minutes. The 10–1 shot differential marked the largest margin Lake Erie has faced in any half this season. Walsh broke through early when standout forward Paityn Marino netted her sixth goal of the year, moving into second in the conference in scoring. From there, however, the Storm defense held firm, allowing 15 more shots but keeping the Cavaliers off the board the rest of the way. Although Walsh attempted 11 more shots overall (17–6), both teams finished with just three shots on goal.
Out of halftime, Lake Erie looked rejuvenated, setting the tone when Alyvia Sanom nearly scored just 12 seconds into the period. In the 61st minute, senior Ainsley MacKenzie netted her first goal of the season, extending her streak of scoring in every year of her collegiate career—a run that began with a goal in her very first college game against Purdue Northwest on August 27, 2022.
The Matchup
Entering the game on an 11-match losing streak against Walsh — including a 4-2 loss last season — the Storm earned a result that shows real progress. While a draw isn't the ultimate goal, head coach Carl Contrascier can be proud of his team's resilience and the direction the program is heading.
Looking Ahead
The Storm now hit the road for two more G-MAC matchups next week, visiting Ursuline on Thursday before facing Thomas More on Saturday. The Arrows opened the year 2-1 with wins over Clarion and Glenville State but have since been outscored 14-0 in their first four conference matches. The Saints, on the other hand, struggled through non-conference play (1-3) but have started strong in G-MAC action (2-1) with victories over Malone and Kentucky Wesleyan.
