WICHITA, Kan. – Keily Larosee made sure the start of both her senior season and the 2024 campaign for the Friends University Falcons was a memorable one, booting in the game-winning score off Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo's second assist of the night with 16 seconds left to send Adair-Austin Stadium into euphoria with a 2-1 victory over the No 18-ranked Benedictine College Ravens tonight (Aug. 21).
Larosee is also now etched in the record book, with her 43rd career goal tying the modern-era record.
The final sequence came when Ibarra-Arevalo, playing in her first career game, gained possession and found a darting Larosee charging toward the middle of the box for a perfectly executed score.
"We told the team in the locker room the first game is always a good opportunity to set the tone for the season," said Friends women's soccer head coach Brent Hobson. "Anahi was incredible, her work rate was excellent and she just never stopped. Her and Keily looked like they've been playing together for a few seasons already. They have a good connection so far."
Ibarra-Arevalo had helped put the Falcons on top early by finding Kieley Aranda on a similar play just under six minutes into the contest.
Payton Vogelbacher then squared the match with a goal for the Ravens at the 15:39 mark.
The shot count reflected the tight quarters the match was played under, with the Falcons out-shooting the Ravens 10-9 overall but Benedictine holding a 6-5 edge on-goal.
As expected, the Falcons (1-0) split time at goalkeeper tonight, with Nia Baker starting the first half and making three saves with one goal allowed and Morgan Wilkinson playing the second half with a pair of stops. Mackenzie Korzenecki made three saves with the two goals allowed for the Ravens (0-1).
Another ranked opponent is next on the docket for the Falcons next Friday evening (Aug. 30) at No. 7-ranked John Brown University. Kickoff is set for 5 pm in Siloam Springs, Ark.
"Just proud of everyone's physical play," said Hobson. "We knew it'd be a big factor in the game and thought all of our players gave it their all for 90 minutes."
