Eagles Drop Preseason Opener at ODU, 2-0

Columbus Eagles FC fell 2-0 in its preseason opener against Ohio Dominican University on Sunday. The Eagles return to action this coming Sunday, April 7, against Ohio University at Otterbein University’s Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and tickets are on sale now for $10.

In Sunday’s match, the Eagles controlled the ball for the balance of play and created a number of good scoring chances but weren’t able to convert them. In the sixth minute, Micaela Powers crossed a long pass into the box to Kelly DeNiro, whose shot missed wide. Ashley Gogolin drove a long-range shot to the corner of the net about 10 minutes later, but it was cleared at the vital moment by a Panthers defender.

In the 21st minute, a defensive error led to ODU’s Samantha Buck scoring the match’s first goal. ODU’s Hannah Arison put a second one past Eagles’ keeper Andrea Vera in the 47th minute to give the Panthers a two-goal cushion.

Natalie Horner hit the post for Columbus in her Eagles debut, and Columbus had a few other shots cleared off the goal line throughout the match.

The club plays two more home preseason matches before the start of the WPSL season in May. The Eagles’ home league opener is May 19 against Cincinnati Sirens FC at Otterbein University. Tickets are on sale for that match now.

All 2019 Eagles matches are included in a season membership, on sale now starting at $40!

Match Notes:

– Horner, Vera, Brooklyn Pritt, Macy Torres, Deja Edwards, and goalkeeper Abby Weller all made debuts for the Eagles on Sunday.

– Eagles forward Dani Gunderson left the match in the 30th minute with an ankle injury. She’ll be evaluated in the coming days and her availability for Sunday’s match against OU is questionable.

– Gogolin was the Eagles’ captain for the match. It’s the Wright State alumna’s first time starting as Eagles captain.

– Eagles defender Megan Minnix returned to the lineup after a long rehab from an Achilles injury she sustained in our 2018 season finale at Pittsburgh. Minnix started Sunday’s match and played roughly 60 minutes in her return.

– The match was the first outdoor match in charge for new Eagles coach Matt Ogden. The head coach of Capital University’s women’s soccer team was hired as Columbus’s coach in November.