LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - In a match characterized by intense play and several near-misses, Berry fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Covenant Tuesday night bringing their overall record to 0-2-1.
The lone goal of the game came from Covenant's Hannah Ford in the 59th minute, leaving Berry with a tough result despite a strong overall performance.
The second half saw Berry pushing hard for an opening goal, but they were unable to break down Covenant's resolute defense. The game resumed with both teams making multiple substitutions to inject fresh legs into the match. Berry's goalkeeper, Maggie Jones, remained vigilant throughout the game, making several crucial saves to keep her team in contention.
Berry's best chances came early in the second half. Peyton Goolsby had a promising shot saved by Covenant's Bronwyn Kickasola just under a minute after the restart. Berry's Kelsie Crosier and Giselle Aitken also had shots on goal, but Kickasola's solid performance between the posts thwarted their efforts. The Scots' most significant opportunity came late in the game when Savannah Courtenay (who made her 50th appearance in a Vikings jersey tonight) and Margaret Eddins both had shots deflected.
The Vikings tried to rally in the closing stages, earning several corner kicks and making tactical substitutions in an effort to find an equalizer. However, despite creating multiple set-piece opportunities, including corners in the 79th and 81st minutes, Berry was unable to convert these chances into goals.
Berry will have the opportunity to bounce back when they next face off in their home opener at Pearson Field this Saturday against Southern Virginia at 1:00 PM ET.
