ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Down several key contributors on a hot day, Eastern University Women's Soccer had a commanding edge in possession and pulled away to a 6-1 win over the visiting Neumann University Knights (3-4-1). The Eagles (4-3) have won all four of their Saturday matches this fall.
How It Happened:
The Eagles had field position and possession at from the start, but despite four corner kicks in the opening 20 minutes they could not find an early goal. They finally broke through in the 27th minute.
Kellie Reith played a promising ball into the box from the right side.
Casey Avello reached it near the penalty spot and eluded a defender with her first touch. She turned and fired a low shot to the left post. Payton Clements, the Neumann goalkeeper, got a hand to her shot, but
Nicole Weenink was in the right spot to guide home the goahead goal from four yards out.
Three minutes later Corinne Vecchinone doubled the Eastern lead with a left-footed blast from 25 yards out. The sophomore took a pass from
Zoe Galvin and lifted it to the upper left-corner for her first career tally.
The Knights answered with a goal on a corner kick in the 32nd minute before the Eagles scored on their sixth and final corner of the opening half in the 33rd. Galvin Served the ball in and
Amy Radcliffe headed the ball back against traffic.
Katerina Mouzakitis tucked home the finish from close range.
The Eagles had several other great chances in the closing minutes of the half, but Clements made a pair of good stops against Weenink to keep the difference two at the half.
The Eagles added to their lead on a pair of mirror image goals in the 53rd and 60th minutes. On the first, Reith slotted a ball into the box for
Alyssa Sheaffer on the right side. She played her first touch across the box and Weenink finished with her right foot on her first touch. Seven minutes later, Avello slipped a pass through the Neumann back row for Weenink on the left side. With the keeper committed, Weenink played her first touch to the opposite side where Sheaffer pounded it home with her left foot.
Amber Houser picked up a loose ball in the 85th minute and put it away for her first career tally and the final margin.
Grace Schreckengast made three of her four saves in a single sequence after a Neumann corner kick in the 65th minute. She made a pair of point blank stops and an Eastern defender blcoked a shot before Schreckengast was able to hold a save on a fourth shot. Neumann's other shot in the second half came from distance in the 75th minute.
Coach Stueck Says:
"It was an excellent team win today. Not only did every available Eagle contribute on the field today, but we also got goals from 5 different scorers, a real team win."
"We established some strong possession in both halves, and I was particular proud of how we kept our foot on the gas in the second half. Amy [Radcliffe] was excellent today and really set the tone for the whole team""
"Nicole, who had a hand in three goals, continues to play selfless soccer and is getting into top form at the perfect time. We are hoping to continue to get more healthy as we have a week until we play again."
Up Next:
The Eagles play again next Saturday against Lebanon Valley at noon. After starting the season with five-of-six on the road, the Eagles have three-straight home games.
