NEW ULM, MINN. – In Saturday's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference [UMAC] Game of the Week, the University of Northwestern women's soccer team kept its conference record unblemished as they defeated Martin Luther College (7-6-2, 6-3-1 UMAC), 3-0, in New Ulm. With the win, the Eagles advance to 9-6-1 on the season and remain first in UMAC play with a 9-0-1 record.
UNW's
Emily Goeppinger (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) scored the lone goal on the first half, as the senior midfielder buried a penalty kick at the 25' mark to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead at the intermission break.
Keeping the pressure on in the second, Northwestern's
Maddie Leever (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Christian) netted one at the 66th minute to lift the score, 2-0, still in the Eagles favor. Helping out in the offensive action, UNW's
Megan Larsen (Appleton, Wis./Appleton East) earned the assist, respectively.
With eight minutes left to play in regulation,
Anna Welch (Lakeville, Minn./Homeschool) knocked in the game-winning goal for Northwestern, as the freshman midfielder scored off of teammate
Emily Daubenmier (Kijabe, KE./Rift Valley Academy)'s cross ball. Welch's final tally on the game allowed the Eagles to secure the afternoon victory, 3-0, over the Knights.
Capping of the contest, UNW totaled 22 shots [13 SOG], topping MLC's 15 shots [5 SOG].
Northwestern's stat leaders on the mid-day match were Welch [5S / 4 SOG / 1G], Goeppinger [1S / 1 SOG / 1G], Leever [1S / 1 SOG / 1G], and Daubenmier [1S / 1A].
UNW's defensive line – made up of
Dana Lehtinen (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove),
Aislinn Kavanaugh (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy),
Taylor Brinkman (Hudson, Wis./Hudson), and
Anna Martinson (Apple Valley, Minn./Homeschool) – took control on the 90-minute battle, as they helped the Eagles record their fifth shutout win on the season.
The squad will host Crown College on Wednesday, October 25, for it's home finale. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Reynolds Field. For more information on the women's soccer program, fans can visit www.unweagles.com and follow @unwwsoc on Twitter.
