ANGOLA, Ind. – A four goal second half powered the Trine University women's soccer team to a commanding victory over visiting Olivet College. With the win the team secures second place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings, the best finish in program history.
"It's amazing to see how this team has grown the last four years," reflected senior Andrea Wright following the match, "From finishing near the bottom of the conference to finishing second in the regular season. I am so proud and thankful for this team."
The Thunder entered the evening needing a win to secure the spot, with two team's just behind them in the standings. The first half made the task seem a bit taller than originally anticipated as the team battled strong winds and a tough defensive effort from the visiting Comets.
Trine peppered the opposition's net with 11 total shots with four coming on net, but the Olivet squad was up to the challenge keeping the match scoreless into the intermission.
A bit of luck also seemed on the visitor's side, when sophomore Teresa Ashbrook just missed on the first real scoring opportunity. She ended up with the ball inside of the goal area and fired a blistering shot into the top of the net. Instead of heading home, the ball struck the crossbar and rebounded nearly straight down, somehow staying just outside of the goal line. Ashbrook then had a second chance and sent it just over the crossbar.
The next four times that the Thunder put the ball on net the Comets' keeper was in position to make the save and the teams entered halftime scoreless.
"Going into halftime 0-0, but controlling play can be frustrating," said head coach Gary Boughton, "We encouraged the girls to stay the course. We knew that if we played our game the results would follow. I'm very happy with their performance tonight."
Despite the encouragement at the half, the second period began in the same way as the first, with Trine controlling possession and applying ample pressure on the net. The Thunder recorded three quality attempts in the first ten minutes of play, two ended in saves and one went off the post. The wind was a bigger issue in the half, blowing into the team's faces and making set pieces all the more difficult.
Finally, just into the 59th minute of the contest, freshman Lindsey Meyer fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box, that initially looked like it would hang-up in the wind. Instead it settled and dropped just below the crossbar and over the reaching hands of the keeper. The first goal of Meyer's career gave the team the lead and opened the floodgates for the offense.
Four minutes later the team scored their second goal. This time the ball ended up inside of the penalty area and sophomore Paige Skaff eventually settled it before passing it toward the middle of the net. From there senior Olivia Butterworth fired the shot on net which struck true for the goal.
Another four minutes would pass before the team scored again. The team earned one of many corner kicks and sophomore Bella Mabry finally played the difficult winds perfectly, placing the ball into the center of the goal area. For the third straight game Wright was in perfect position to capitalize on the pass with the header goal.
With the team holding a comfortable 3-0 lead, Boughton began to clear the bench. The young members of the team made the most of their time on the pitch, but it gave the Comets a chance to press the other direction. Soon after relieving sophomore Sophie Aschemeier in net, freshman Madison Kinneer recorded the first save of her career and the lone of the game for the team.
Then in the 85th minute of play, the reserves found some rhythm in the offensive zone. Freshman Taylor Currier scored the first goal of her career with sophomore Blair Wright adding the assist. It was the final goal of the game giving the team the 4-0 victory.
Trine improves to 10-4-3 overall and 5-1-2 in MIAA play following the victory. With their second-place finish the team receives an opening round bye in the upcoming MIAA Tournament. They will next take the pitch at home on Wednesday, November 2 in the second round of the tournament. They will play the winner of the opening round match between Hope College and Kalamazoo College which will be played on Saturday, October 29.
