The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team picked up it's first win of the year, downing Asbury University 3-0 on the road in Wilmore Kentucky today.
Asbury, who were the KIAC conference champions and NAIA Opening Round participants in 2009, were unable to stop an unrelenting SAU attack and hemmoraged two goals in the first half and another in the closing stanza to concede the 3-0 result.
Cougar freshman midfielder
Ashley DeNio earned her first career goal and points in the third minute of play when she nodded home a
Kristin Abbott corner kick to put the visitors in the driver's seat early with a 1-0 lead.
In spite of solid pressure by SAU, Asbury held firm until three minutes before half time when SAU freshman forward
Chloe Maxwell made a run up the right side of the field and slotted the ball to sophomore
Megan Wegener. Wegener beat Asbury goalkeeper Maegan Rogers to the cross and slotted the ball home to give the Cougars a 2-0 cushion.
Abbott finished the scoring for SAU in the 68th minute when Wegener played her through the Eagles defense at midfield. Abbott closed the distance to the Asbury goal quickly and beat Rogers with a touch to the left before sending home the insurance goal.
Sping Arbor netminders
Christina Riske and Lauren Wright combined for the shutout for SAU, picking up just one save between them in a game that was lopsided on the stat sheet, with Spring Arbor holding a 23-1 edge in shots and 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
"We will certainly take a good result on the road," commented SAU head coach
Jason Crist. "We have a young team and at times we looked like a young team today. However I believe this group has a lot of potential and I know we are going to continue to get better, especially as we get healthy."
The Lady Cougars won't have much time to enjoy the win as they welcome Roberts Wesleyan, Houghton College and Cornerstone University to campus this weekend for a classic style tournament. Spring Arbor will face Roberst Wesleyan at 2:00 p.m. on Friday before taking on Houghton College at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Cornerstone will play Houghton at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and Roberts Wesleyan and Cornerstone will face off at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Go Cougars!
