ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Northwestern Women's Soccer Team found its offensive swagger again on Wednesday night against North Central after being held scoreless last Saturday. Marie Kendall (Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy) and Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) each recorded a hat trick as the Eagles rolled to a 7-0 victory.
Meehan opened the scoring in the first half after breaking through the back line and burying a shot in the far corner. About two minutes later, Meehan sent a ball up the sideline for Kendall, who sped past multiple defenders before chipping the keeper to give UNW a 2-0 lead in the first 11 minutes.
The Eagles added three more goals in the final 10 minutes of the half. Goalie, Sam Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) collected an overpassed ball and sent a drop kick to the other side of the field, where Kendall settled it before dribbling in and burying her second goal of the night. For UNW's fourth goal, Isabelle Stevens (Junction City, Wis./Stevens Point) delivered a free kick to Meehan, whose initial shot was punched back into the box. Meehan gathered the rebound and snuck it past the keeper to put the Eagles up 4-0.
Kendall completed her hat trick with a goal of beauty. After receiving a pass from Tayla Thomas (Wylie, Texas/Homeschool), she cut back to her right foot and sent the ball off the crossbar and into the net to give Northwestern a 5-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Six minutes into the second half, Meehan completed her hat trick after receiving a cross from Kendall and finding the far corner. With her sister already having three goals, Ada Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) decided to get in on the action herself. In the 58th minute, she intercepted a pass in the Eagles' attacking third and put on a show with her footwork. After beating and splitting through four defenders, she created enough space to get a shot off and placed it perfectly out of reach of the keeper to cap off the 7-0 victory.
Kendall and Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) led the Eagles with three goals apiece, recording 10 and six shots on goal, respectively. Ada Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) added the final goal and put two shots on target, while Stevens and Maddy Montoya (Plainview, Minn./Homeschool) each recorded two shots on goal. Hansen had a quiet night in goal, as the Rams did not record a shot on target during her 59 minutes on the field. The senior also contributed an assist before Ella Rydberg (Plymouth, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) took over for the final 31 minutes. Rydberg faced the Rams' lone shot of the game to help complete the shutout.
Now 6-1-1 in conference play, Northwestern will travel to Mankato to take on the Bethany Lutheran Vikings on Saturday, October 17, at 3:30 PM.
