Canisius freshman Samantha Gagliano scored her first career goal and fellow freshman Rebecca Lederman added a security marker midway through the second half as the Golden Griffins went on the road and defeated Marist 3-1 in MAAC women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon.
With the win, the Griffs moved to 4-5-0 in MAAC play and increased their chances of making the MAAC Tournament heading into their final regular-season game of the 2014 campaign. Canisius also improved its overall record to 5-13-0 on the year. The Red Foxes fell to 2-9-4 this season with a 1-4-3 mark in the MAAC.
Canisius got the first goal of the game on an own-goal by Marist as the Red Foxes made an error in the box, giving the Griffs an early 1-0 lead in the 14th minute of play. Marist would counter in the 30th minute after Marjana Maksuti scored on a header off of the corner feed from teammate Danielle Glazer.
In the 42nd minute of play, Gagliano scored the game-winner on a rebound off of the post. Lederman helped the Blue and Gold secure the road victory in the 60th minute of play, scoring her second goal of the season on a rebound off of a Marist save.
Canisius junior goalkeeper Kailee DeFranks earned the win in net for the Griffs, as she made eight saves in her third start of the 2014 campaign. Marist goalkeeper Makala Foley took the loss after she allowed three goals and recorded five saves in the losing effort for the Red Foxes.
For the game, Marist outshot Canisius by a 14-10 count and the Red Foxes ended up with a 6-3 advantage on corner kicks.
Canisius will close out the 2014 regular season at home on Saturday, Oct. 25, when the Griffs play host to Manhattan. Game time is set for 1 p.m., at the Demske Sports Complex. Canisius is looking to earn a berth into the 2014 MAAC Women's Soccer Championships, which starts with quarterfinal round games on Saturday, Nov. 1. Six teams qualify for the MAAC Championship this year, with seed No. 3 and No. 4 hosting quarterfinal games on campus.
Game Notes: This was the 20th all-time meeting between Canisius and Marist in women's soccer, with the Red Foxes leading the series 13-6-1… Canisius last beat Marist in 2008 in the first year under Jim Wendling... The win in goal for DeFranks is the first of her career… Gagliano is the third Canisius freshman to score a goal for the Griffs this season.
