Rawlings Stands Strong and Grimm Delivers Crucial Goal in Upset Over No. 10 Marian
UPLAND, Ind. – Brianna Rawlings and the Trojan defense denied the powerful Marian (8-2-2, 1-1-1 CL) attack and found a goal via Audrey Grimm in a 1-0 upset on Wednesday evening.
Grimm broke the deadlock in the second half, getting a pass from Brooke Cimini, who was outstanding in defense all night, and making a run on the wing before beating her defender and cutting inside. The sensational senior fired a shot from just inside the 18-yard box and perfectly placed it inside the far post for the game-winner.
Rawlings made several spectacular saves throughout the night, notching eight in all to collect her fourth shutout of the season.
Marian came ready to play, firing the first three shots of the contest and earning four corners within the first seven minutes of action. Taylor's defense and Rawlings held strong to keep the game scoreless.
A flurry of substitutions gave new life to Taylor (5-3-2, 2-1-0 CL), and the best scoring opportunity of the half fell to Lauren Collins, who fired just wide on a run into the box.
The Knights turned the pressure up again late in the half, hitting the crossbar and forcing three saves in the final 12 minutes before going to the locker room.
A reinvigorated visiting side was in control for the first fifteen minutes after action resumed, but the TU defense was stalwart in denying everything thrown at them.
Grimm's goal came shortly after and an almost immediate response was denied by the palms of Rawlings, who was not going to let the ball past her in a spectacular showing by the junior.
Marian continued to search for a goal but to no avail despite totaling 23 shots and 17 corners. The Trojan defense intervened at every critical moment to deny a goal to a squad averaging 3.5 goals per game coming into today.
Taylor stays home to face Mount Vernon Nazarene (5-3-2, 0-1-2 CL) on Saturday, October 5, during Homecoming weekend. The match is set to kick off at 7:00 pm.