Wheaton, Ill. – The Dominican University Women's Soccer team traveled to Wheaton College for their first game of 2026 and their first game of the Wheaton College Tournament. The Stars played Greenville University in the first matchup.
Results:
Dominican: 5
Greenville: 0
How
it Happened:
-The Stars got the game rolling early with Freshman
Grace Durante taking the first shot of the match and found the back of the net, scoring her first collegiate goal in the 7
th minute of the match. Junior
Ariana Barney assisted on the Durante goal.
-Dominican was not satisfied with a 1-0 lead and kept the pressure on with 5 shots in the next 12 minutes of the match. Durante had two of those shots, graduate student
Sierra Rioux had a shot on target, Junior
Tia Garr had a shot, and Sophomore
MK Kluesner had a shot on target.
-DU was hunting for that second goal of the match and found it in the 37
th minute when Freshman
Renna Gravenhof buried her first collegiate goal off the set piece from the corner, with an assist from Freshman
Claire Nelson.
-The Stars then had a chance to make it 3-0 to go into the break when Garr drew a penalty kick and stepped onto the spot to take the PK. Garr scored the PK, and Dominican took a 3-0 lead into the break.
-DU had 10 shots in the first half and 4 corner kicks. The Panthers only had one shot in the first half.
-The Stars did not hesitate to start strong with Garr, and Durante each got shots in the first five minutes of the second half. This drew momentum for Senior Mackenize Cuddihy to take the shot on the set piece outside the 18-yard box and score her first goal of her senior season in the 56
th minute of the match.
-Freshman
Azara Waite checked into the match in the 59
th minute and made an instant impact, scoring her first collegiate goal in the 65
th minute on her first collegiate shot. This making the score 5-0 in favor of Dominican.
-DU kept the foot on the gas with 7 shots in the final 18 minutes of the match, 3 by Senior
Meghan Wilhite, 1 by Freshman
Chloe Sikora, 1 by Freshman
Riley Brooks, and the final by Junior
Ava Anderson.
-The Stars exploded for 26 total shots and 15 shots on target in the match. Dominican also earned 6 corners in the match.
Shining
Stars:
-Freshman
Grace Durante was the Star of the Match, where she scored her first collegiate goal on 5 shots, and 3 of those on the target. Durante started the match and played in 48 minutes.
-Junior
Tia Garr continued right where she left off in the midfield, scoring a goal on 4 shots, with 2 of those on the target.
-Junior
Ariana Barney collected an assist with both of her shots being on the target.
-Senior
Mackenzie Cuddihy scored on her only shot of the match.
-Freshman
Renna Gravenhof scored her first collegiate goal on her first collegiate shot.
-Freshman
Claire Nelson picked up her first collegiate assist in her 30 minutes of action.
-Freshman
Azara Waite earned her first collegiate goal on her first collegiate shot.
-Senior
Meghan Wilhite had 4 shots on target, with one of those being on the target.
Leading
the Way:
Goals: 5 Players
Assists: Barney and Nelson
Shots: Durante (5)
Shots on Goal: Durante (3)
Saves: Pratt (1)
Minutes: Pratt (90)
What's
Next:
Dominican University Women's Soccer starts the season off 1-0-0 and is right back in action tomorrow night in the Wheaton College Tournament. The Stars will take on the host school, Wheaton College, at 7:00 p.m.
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