WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore midfielder Kayla Brace scored her first career goal on the first career assist from sophomore Nicole Bailey in the 84th minute, and the University of Maine soccer team defeated Holy Cross, 1-0, on Thursday night at Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium.
 
Despite only tallying four shots, Maine (1-2-1) was able to apply pressure on Holy Cross (1-3-0) as the match went on and weathered the Crusaders' 11 shots.
 
Sophomore Annalena Kriebisch (1-2-1) recorded her second shutout of the season, making seven saves in the process and a number of other key, heads-up plays that didn't register on the score sheet. Caroline Cashion finished with two saves for the Crusaders (1-3-0).
 
An aggressive UMaine back line did well to contain the Holy Cross offense, drawing the Crusaders into an offside position on three occasions.
 
Goal Recap
• Brace took a feed from Bailey on the left corner and with a collapsing Holy Cross defense, put the ball away from just inside the box
 
Notes
• The Black Bears evened the all-time series with the Crusaders at 8-8 with the victory.
• Maine's goal served as the first career point for Brace and the first career assist for Bailey.
• Senior captain Kendra Ridley, senior Amy Falkin, freshman Jane Stevens and Kriebisch all played the full 90 minutes for the Black Bears.
• With her seven-save shutout performance, Kriebisch earned her fifth career shutout and second against Holy Cross.
• This marked the third time in Maine's four games this season that the Black Bears have entered halftime in a scoreless tie.
• Maine holds the edge in all-time scoring in the series, 25-21.
 
Up Next
• Maine will play a neutral site matchup on Sunday, Sept. 3, as the Black Bears travel to Thornton Academy in Saco to take on the University of Massachusetts in a 7 p.m. tilt.
• The Black will then return home for two games, battling the Bryant Bulldogs on Thursday, Sept. 7 and the Marist Red Foxes on Sunday, Sept. 10.