EWING – Senior goalkeeper Christina Fabiano set a career high with 10 saves at Lions Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, in a 2-1 loss against the No. 1 Messiah College Falcons.
From the very start, Messiah pushed the ball deep into Lions territory and forced Fabiano into uncomfortable situations. Her first save came at 4:31, where she managed to cut a Messiah push short and get her team driving once again.
Fabiano knew the game would be close. Two days before the game, she told CONJSports.com she believed the Messiah matchup would be up in the air until the end.
“It’s truly anyone’s game,” Fabiano said. “When it comes to top-ranked teams competing, anything can happen on any given day.”
While that was the case, it was only due to Fabiano’s miraculous efforts in keeping the Lions alive throughout. The Lions allowed six shots in the first half and 11 in the second. While her defense backed her up on several occasions, including an added save credited to the team, any one of those shots should’ve gone into the net to blow the game open.
The Falcons had many scoring opportunities, on top of four penalty corner shots. Fabiano dove several times to knock the ball out of play, as she demonstrated poise and mobility in the face of aggressive scorers.
This matchup meant a lot to Fabiano and the Lions.
“We like to look at every game with equal importance but I think we’re all really hyped up for this game in particular,” said Fabiano on Thursday. “Given the season they had last year, we’re really excited to show that we can compete with the best.”
There might’ve been some nerves early on, especially when Messiah scored two unanswered goals. Based on the first two scores, a blowout seemed likely. But when coach Sharon Pfluger called a timeout and addressed the team after the second goal, something clicked.
After the meeting, the Falcons didn’t get another shot until the second half. With time to recoup, Fabiano heated up in the second half, which led to a career performance for the senior goalkeeper.
“Coach has been in this position time and time again, so she’s as prepared as a coach can possibly be,” Fabiano said. “It’s a great experience playing for someone who knows the magnitude of the game, but also wants us to play relaxed and have fun.”
If Pfluger can help Fabiano recapture her second half performance as the offense heats up, the Lions could be set for a deep postseason run this fall.
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