Box Score In 90 minutes of soccer Mount Union attempted two shots against host Denison. Unfortunately for the Big Red, sometimes that's all you need as the Purple Raiders sent DU to a 2-1 season-opening loss from Barclay-Thomsen Field.
In the first half the two squads played to a scoreless tie, but DU held a decisive 11-0 advantage in shots as the ball sat almost exclusively on the Big Red's half of the field.
In the 48th minute of play, Denison's Jocelyn Festle broke the scoreless tie after she handled a threaded pass from Sara Livingston. Just a few yards from the goal, Festle sent the ball into the right side of the goal.
That lead would last 10 minutes until Nicole Moldovan booted in a cross from Kolbie Hanies, tying the match at 1-1 with 32 minutes to play.
After the goal by Moldovan, Denison would attempt three more shots, with one resulting in a save by Raider goalkeeper Maria Favorite off another shot by Festle.
The save by Favorite would spark Mount Union into transition on the offensive end. Denison goalkeeper Andrea Karl came out of the goal to gather the loose ball, but her kick, which was intended for a Denison defender, was intercepted by Mount Union's Shannon Evans who poked in the go-ahead goal.
Over the final 13 minutes Denison took four more shots, but could not tie the match. DU outshot the Purple Raiders 21-2 and blanked their opponents in corner kicks, 9-0. Favorite posted seven saves in goal for the visitors.
Festle paced Denison with five shots, three of which were on goal. First-year Andrea Witte posted four shots in her collegiate debut and sophomore Caitlin Cheverine posted three shots.
Denison will look to bounce back tomorrow when they host Hanover College at 1 p.m. The Denison Sports Network will provide live video coverage of Sunday's match beginning at 12:55 p.m.
