MIDWAY, Ky. -- Following a tough 3-2 loss to Pikeville (Ky.) on Tuesday (Sept. 7), the Midway women's soccer team bounced back on Thursday (Sept. 9) and picked up their first win of the season against Kentucky Christian at the Midway Soccer Field.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first half, but that soon would change after nearly 20 minutes had passed in the second stanza. Marissa Sauer stepped up and took a penalty kick that she sent into the back of the net lifting her team to the 1-0 victory.

With the win, Midway picks up their first victory of the season improving to 1-1 on the year, while the Knights fall to 0-4 on the year.

Each team posed scoring threats in the first half and had chances to score, but both defenses stood tall and kept a clean sheet. Kentucky Christian held a slight upper hand in the first half with a 9-5 advantage in shots, while each team put two shots on goal.

After failing to find paydirt in the opening 45 minutes, Midway pressed more in the second half and created more scoring opportunities. Marissa Sauer and Lyla Khanthachack (Groveport, Ohio) each sent shots on frame before Midway broke through in the 64th minute.

As the Blue and Gold took a corner kick, the Knights' goalkeeper committed a foul in an attempt to gain possession as Midway was awarded a penalty kick following the foul.

Marissa Sauer, a junior from Henderson, Ky., stepped up to take the penalty and found the back of the net. Sauer slid the penalty by the diving goalkeeper and into the back of the net giving her team the 1-0 lead.

Midway had another opportunity to score in the 73rd minute when Mariana Casey (Georgetown, Ky.) took a shot from inside the box, but her shot deflected off the crossbar as the score remained 1-0.

Trailing 1-0, Kentucky Christian pressed forward in the final minutes searching for an equalizer. The Knights had four corner kicks in the final five minutes and two in the final two minutes, but Midway's defense stood tall as they held on for the 1-0 victory.

Yasmeen Shalash, a freshman from Nicholasville, Ky., picked up the first win of her career following the shutout. She stopped three shots in the win, while her counterpart, Royce Henderson, made five saves in a losing effort.

Midway will continue their four game homestand to open the season on Saturday when they host Berea (Ky.) at 1 p.m. ET at the Midway Soccer Field.

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