River Forest, Ill. - The Dominican University Women's Soccer team was back to their conference schedule after a non-conference match Sunday afternoon on their home turf.
Results:
Dominican: 5
Benedictine: 0
How It Happened:
-The Stars were out on the front foot early in the match earning 5 shots in the first 20 minutes of action. Freshman
Kaylie Reeve, Senior
Mackenzie Cuddihy, Freshman
Grace Durante, and Senior
Meghan Wilhite all earned shots.
-Dominican kept firing shots at the net with Graduate Student
Sierra Rioux and Freshman
Jailyn Gallegos each adding shots shortly after the 20-minute mark.
-Freshman
Riley Brooks entered the match in the 28
th minute and she made an instant impact, as she flew down the middle of the pitch to score the first goal of the match in the 33
rd minute.
-DU was looking for a second in the first half as Freshman
Khloe Lopez and Junior
Sarai Gomez each put shots on target.
-The Stars led 1-0 and had 13 shots in the first half with 6 of those being on frame.
-Just 4 minutes into the second half Gomez put her first goal in a Stars uniform into the back of the net off a volley from Reeve.
-Dominican was hungry for more as Junior
Ariana Barney collected back-to-back shots. Following Barney's shots were Reeve and Freshman
Azara Waite also earning shots.
-DU was greeted with their third goal in the 64
th minute, when Junior
Tia Garr beat the back line of the Eagles and scored her seventh goal of the season. Junior
Presley Coles and Wilhite earned assists on the goal.
-Shortly after Durante was driving into the 18-yard box where she was fouled to earn a pk for the Stars. Coles stepped up to take the penalty and buried it on the left side of the net to give DU a 4-0 lead.
-Just 30 seconds later Coles fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box that went bar-down into the back of the net, to give Coles a brace in the match. Durante assisted on the goal.
-Freshman Sara Appleby collected a save in the 79
th minute of the match to give herself a third straight shutout victory for DU.
-Dominican finished the match with 30 shots and 14 of those being on target.
-The Stars also had 6 corner kicks.
Shining Stars:
-Junior
Presley Coles earned Star of the Match, as she played in 57 minutes. Coles collected 2 goals and an assist along with 2 shots.
-Freshman
Riley Brooks was flying all around the field in her 42 minutes of play. Brooks was rewarded with a goal.
-Junior
Tia Garr has been a huge offensive factor for this DU squad all season, and that continued this afternoon. Garr collected a goal on only shot of the match.
-Junior
Sarai Gomez was fantastic for the Stars as she collected a goal on 2 shots on target.
-Freshman
Grace Durante earned an assist and a shot on target.
-Freshman
Kaylie Reeve continues to play a huge roll for Dominican in the middle of the field as she earned an assist and 3 shots.
-Senior
Meghan Wilhite fired 4 shots in the match while also collecting an assist.
Leading the Way:
Goals: Coles (2)
Assists: 4 Players (1)
Shots: Wilhite (4)
Shots on Goal: Gomez and Coles (2)
Saves: Appleby (1)
Minutes: Appleby (90)
What's Next:
Dominican University Women's Soccer improves to 11-3-2 (8-2 NACC) on the season. The Stars will be right back on the pitch this Saturday afternoon for senior day. DUWSOC will be recognizing 3 seniors on Saturday, as they welcome in the Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran. The kickoff is set for 2:45 p.m. at West Campus Field.
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