ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Women's Soccer team continued its hot streak Saturday with a Homecoming win over the University of Minnesota Morris. The 5-0 victory was Northwestern's third in a row, all in conference, and they won them by a combined score of 13-0. The Eagles are now 4-2 in the UMAC, firmly in the mix as they approach the final month of the regular season.
It was all UNW early, and after four shots on goal that were saved by Morris,
Briella Babcock (Byron, Minn./Byron) was able to convert one off a
Mya Chan (Brandon, S.D./Homeschool) corner kick in the 17
th minute. Ten minutes later,
Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) launched a missile to the top-right corner of the net for her third goal of her freshman season to extend the lead to 2-0. It appeared that the two teams would go into the half with the 2-0 score intact, but the Eagles had other ideas. In the 43
rd minute, Chan sent a free kick toward the box, where
Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah) headed it to Babcock, who tapped it in for her second goal of the day and her third of the season.
The second half saw more opportunities by both sides, but
Samantha Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) and the Cougars' goalkeeper held firm. That is, until the 72
nd minute, when Mersberger snuck one by the keeper and into the net for her fourth goal of the year. She added her fifth just three minutes later when a handball in the box gave Northwestern a penalty kick, which the senior rocketed into the top-right corner of the net. With a 5-0 lead, UNW was able to get its reserves into the game to close out another conference shutout, its fourth of the season.
Mersberger was all over the place, taking 13 shots, seven on goal, scoring twice and adding an assist. Babcock was efficient with her opportunities, shooting three times, twice on goal, with both going in. Meehan also shot three times and twice on goal, making one.
Megan Moeller (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian School) contributed five shots, three of which were on goal, while Chan tallied four shots, two shots on goal and an assist. Hansen made five saves in net to earn yet another shutout and was aided by the back line of
Elle Bush (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji),
Mallory Moseman (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) and
Lauren Bosley (Blaine, Minn./Blaine).
UNW will continue its homestand Wednesday when it welcomes Gustavus Adolphus to Reynolds Field. The mid-season non-conference tilt will kick off at 7:00 PM.
