Sophomore midfielder Makenzie O'Brien scored her first goal of the season to help the Muhlenberg women's soccer team defeat Moravian 1-0 in a Matte Award contest.
 
The Mules (5-7-3) pressed offensively throughout the match against the Greyhounds (7-6-1), outshooting Moravian 25-6 and having an 11-2 advantage in corner kick attempts. The defense held Moravian to only one shot in the first half and three shots on goal total.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the first half, but Muhlenberg broke through with a goal in the 52nd minute. Freshman back Karolyn Kawa led freshman forward Danni Steigerwald with a pass that Steigerwald then crossed into the box. Her pass found O'Brien who was able to tap the ball past the Greyhound keeper and into the net.
 
The goal was O'Brien's fifth of her career while the assist was Steigerwald's second of the season. Kawa earned her first point of her career with the assist.
 
Senior midfielder Claire Douglass (pictured above) had a great chance to increase the Muhlenberg lead in the 67th minute but her shot off O'Brien's corner kick hit the right post and bounced out.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Libby Juliano saved three second-half shots to preserve the lead, including a diving save to her right with one-hand late in the period. The shutout was her second of the season.
 
The win gives Muhlenberg the 2-1-1 edge in the Matte Award series, having also defeated Moravian in volleyball earlier this season. The next Matte Award game is Wednesday when no. 12 Muhlenberg field hockey plays Moravian at Scotty Wood Stadium.
 
The women's soccer team hosts Senior Day on Saturday against Ursinus in its final regular season game of 2016.