Lancers continue hot start with 5-0 win
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The sizzling start to the 2024 season continued on Saturday for Grace’s women’s soccer team.
The Lancers won their fourth straight match courtesy of a 5-0 victory over Rio Grande.
Grace has outscored its opponents 13-0 this season after collecting the team’s fourth shutout in four games.
The Lancers (4-0) shared the ball well with four players finding the back of the net. Cassidy Felger led the way with two goals and an assist.
Saturday’s match saw Grace score a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes. In the fifth minute, a well-worked attack resulted in a strong shot from Lilli Oberhoff.
Her shot was saved, but Abby Hodkin cleaned up the rebound to put Grace ahead for good. For Hodkin, her goalscoring tear continued. She has scored a goal in each of Grace’s four matches.
Less than 10 minutes later, Grace doubled that lead. A free kick from Zoe Mueller was placed into a dangerous position. Felger pounced on the ensuing loose ball in the box and scored from close range for an early 2-0 lead.
Grace had no trouble possessing the ball for the rest of the half and made the Red Storm (2-2) chase them around the field.
The Lancers strolled into halftime with a 2-0 lead. Rio Grande mustered a single shot attempt.
The second half saw even more offensive firepower from Grace. The Lancers fired off 12 shot attempts after halftime with Rio Grande earning zero shots and zero corner kicks.
In the 63rd minute, Jaylin Young won a header and passed to Madelief Lowik in the center of the field. Lowik quickly passed into the box toward Felger; Felger then edged her defender and slotted her shot inside the far post to collect her second goal.
Seven minutes after that, Felger assisted Ellie Grieser. Grieser placed her lofted shot above the goalkeeper to give Grace a commanding four-goal lead.
The scoring concluded in the 85th minute. Grieser tried a shot that was stopped, but Feline Abbo capitalized on the loose ball to pound her shot into the net for the final 5-0 margin of victory.
The Lancers finished the match with an 18-1 advantage in shots. Eight different players were involved in the scoring with either a goal or an assist.
Already through four games, 11 players for Grace have recorded an assist; seven players have scored a goal as well.
The Lancers’ defense has yet to yield a goal through 360 minutes of play.
Grace will remain at home next week with a match on Saturday against Michigan-Dearborn at 5 p.m.
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