Lady Lancers win seventh straight
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Grace’s women’s soccer team stretched its winning streak to seven courtesy of a 5-0 rout at Bethel on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers (11-1, 3-0 Crossroads League) are off to their best start in program history, tied with the 2009 squad which also started 11-1.
Grace’s seven-game winning streak is the longest since an eight-game streak in 2015.
Four different players scored against the Pilots (3-4-4, 1-2 CL) on Wednesday. Grace had three goals in the first half to set the stage for the rest of the match.
In the 10th minute, a well-built attack resulted in Grace’s first goal. Allison Vroon and Jenni Phillips teamed up for a give-and-go to reach Bethel’s penalty box, and Phillips centered a pass to Shelby Fort in front of goal. Fort alertly laid off a pass to Corinne Villalobos, who drilled her shot into the net.
Phillips struck twice shortly after to blow open the contest. She scored at the 14:47 mark, assisted by Fort, and again at the 23:36 mark, assisted by Kristen Bellinger.
Grace was credited with an 8-5 advantage in the first half, and Bethel’s chances grew even slimmer after halftime. The Pilots was limited to one corner kick and zero shots over the final 40 minutes while Grace grew its cushion.
Bellinger picked up her second assist of the match, finding Fort in the 54th minute to make the score 4-0.
Bellinger then added an unassisted goal to her sterling performance at the 58:47 mark to close out the evening’s scoring.
Phillips finished with two goals and an assist, and Bellinger and Fort each had one goal and two assists.
Bethany Blackwood recorded yet another shutout as goalkeeper — her ninth of the season — while making three saves. Overall, 19 players saw the pitch for Grace.
Grace’s winning streak contains some mind-boggling numbers. The Lady Lancers have outscored their opponents 37-1, and Grace has six shutouts during that stretch alone. Grace has at least two goals in all of those matches, including five games with five or more goals.
The Lady Lancers remain on the road Saturday, playing at No. 18 Taylor at 7 p.m.