BRIDGEPORT, Conn. Senior Alyssa Werbicki (Chicopee, Mass.) scored the first goal of the season for American International College, but it was not enough as LIU Post defeated the Yellow Jackets, 2-1, in non-conference women's soccer action as part of the Purple Knight Classic this afternoon at Bridgeport's Knights Field.
AIC falls to 0-2 on the year with the setback while the Pioneers improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Werbicki wasted little time giving the Jackets the early lead as she blasted home a rebound off freshman Johanna Nilsson's (Ulricehamn, Sweden) initial bid in the 4th minute.
The Jackets then had back-to-back chances in the 34th and 38th minutes off corner kicks by senior Romina Bell (Stockerau, Austria) who found freshman Rachel Brown (Springfield, Mass.) each time only to have her shots, the first of the header variety, stuffed by Pioneer senior keeper Katelyn Phillips (Littleton, Ohio) keeping it a one-goal game.
LIU Post answered after that to tie the score headed into the break as in the 41st minute junior Julia Backman (Morsil, Sweden) flicked in a free-kick by senior Susanne Vistnes (Randaberg, Norway) for the 1-1 score.
AIC almost tilted the score in their favor in the 69th minute as freshman Federica Frew (Melbourne, Australia) fired a laser that clanked the cross-bar keeping the game tied.
Then just three minutes later the Pioneers grabbed the lead as Backman received a pass in the middle of the box and laced a shot into the bottom corner of the net for the 2-1 advantage.
American International was unable to get a shot on goal for the remainder of the second-half as the LIU Post defense held strong.
Phillips was relieved by junior Felicia Orderud (Gothenburg, Sweden) in the second-half and she was not called upon to make a save as she improves to 2-0 on the season while senior Rachel Edgin (Whitesboro, N.Y.) made a pair of saves while falling to 0-2 on the year.
AIC outshot Post 10-8 including 6-4 on net, most of which was in the first half, and also held the 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
The Jackets return to action Thursday as they open there home slate against Mercy at 7:00 p.m.
