GREENVILLE, Ill. — The women's soccer team scored early and often Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 7-1 victory over Mississippi University for Women in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer match at Francis Field.
Greenville wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Just 1:48 into the match, freshman
Ava Pollard found the back of the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The goal stood as the only score of the opening half despite Greenville holding a 6-1 advantage in shots through the first 45 minutes.
The Panthers exploded offensively after halftime, scoring six goals over the final 45 minutes.
Brady Unger doubled the lead in the 49th minute when she finished a pass from Pollard to make it 2-0. Four minutes later,
Idaly Valenzuela converted a penalty kick for Greenville's third goal of the afternoon.
Valenzuela struck again in the 60th minute off another assist from Pollard, pushing the advantage to 4-0 before MUW got on the board. Reagan Shinn scored for the Owls in the 64th minute with an assist from Kiersten Taylor to trim the deficit to 4-1.
Greenville quickly answered. Valenzuela completed her hat trick in the 68th minute on a feed from
Maddie Cooke, restoring the four-goal cushion. Cooke then joined the scoring parade, converting a pass from Valenzuela in the 74th minute before adding her second goal of the match in the 88th minute off an assist from
Josie Sanchez.
Valenzuela finished with a match-high three goals and one assist, while Cooke recorded two goals and an assist. Pollard contributed a goal and two assists, and Unger added a goal. Sanchez and
Josie Sanchez each recorded assists as Greenville tallied five helpers on its seven goals.
The Panthers outshot MUW 18-5 and placed 11 shots on goal. Greenville also held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Natalie McCullough made one save in goal for Greenville to earn the victory. MUW goalkeeper Cam Lopez recorded four saves.
The Panthers improved to 2-12 overall and 2-3 in SLIAC play. Greenville returns to SLIAC action looking to build on its highest-scoring performance of the season.
