ANGOLA, Ind. -- Two goals in the first gave the team a healthy cushion as the Trine University women's soccer team came up with a 3-1 win over visiting Indiana University Kokomo.
The Thunder struck twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
The first goal of the contest came in the 20th minute of play when senior Alyssa Siracuse (Buffalo, N.Y. / Mount Mercy Academy) placed a perfect crossl into the right side of the scoring area. Sophomore Andrea Wright (Plainfield, Ind. / Plainfield) was in the perfect position to bat the ball past the goalkeeper to put the team up 1-0.
Twelve minutes later Trine came up with a steal in the offensive zone and freshman Taylor Noll (Anna, Ohio / Anna) found her self alone behind the defense and finished off the play by winning the duel with the opposing keeper. The goal is her fourth of the young season.
The 2-0 lead would last into intermission and through the majority of the second half. But in the 77th minute of play, the Cougars found the back of the net themselves to pull back within one at 2-1.
Just 30 seconds later Indiana-Kokomo had a chance to tie the game, but a spectacular jumping save by junior Carmen Sweigard (South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon) for the Thunder deflected the ball just enough to push it into the crossbar instead of the back of the net. Sweigard would end the contest with five saves and the win.
Seemingly inspired by the great play by the keeper, Trine showed a renewed attack and four minutes later it paid off. This time freshman Olivia Argentieri (East Amherst, N.Y. / Clarence) passed the ball to the top of the keeper's box where sophomore Veronica Ocampo (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart Memorial) was waiting to place a blistering shot on net. The goal gave the Thunder their final 3-1 lead of the contest.
The Thunder improve to 2-1 following the win. They will travel to face Maranatha Baptist University on Saturday, Sept. 26. The contest is set to start at 3:30 p.m. CDT.