NEW ULM, Minn. - A rainy Saturday afternoon set the stage for the University of Northwestern Women's Soccer Team to take on the Martin Luther College Knights. The weather was unable to put a damper on the Eagles, as they soared to a 6-0 victory.
Ten minutes into the first half,
Ada Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) dribbled up the right sideline, beat a defender, and crossed the ball perfectly in front of the net for the foot of
Marie Kendall (Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy), who buried the opening goal for the Eagles. Kendall earned her brace after scoring an impressive goal in the 33rd minute.
Tayla Thomas (Wylie, Texas/Homeschool) laid the groundwork in the middle off the field drawing several defenders before dishing the ball to Kendall, who took her space and curled the ball into the top corner.
UNW's third goal came with six minutes left in the half following a chaotic sequence in front of the goal. Kendall received the ball in the 18 and was taken down as the ball made its way to
Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool). Meehan's initial shot was blocked back to her feet before she gathered the rebound and fired another shot past the keeper. A minute and a half later, Meehan collected her second goal of the day. Kendall beat three defenders and forced a save, with the rebound falling to Meehan, who tapped the ball into the goal to give UNW a 4-0 lead heading into halftime. Northwestern finished the first half with 11 shots on target to the Knights zero shots on goal.
Meehan continued to be a rebound machine in the second half, completing her hat-trick just six minutes into the final 45 minutes. Kendall's shot was saved by the keeper, but Meehan was there to clean up the rebound and give UNW another goal. After assisting on the opening goal of the game,
Ada Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) added her name to the goal-scoring column in the 64th minute. Her shot found the side netting after another saved ball fell back into the box, giving Meehan the opportunity to finish the play.
Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) finished with 3 goals, in 56 minutes with 10 shots and six on target. Kendall tallied two goals on 10 on-target shots through 64 minutes.
Ada Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) ended with one goal and an assist.
Sam Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) played 70 minutes between the pipes without facing a shot.
Ella Rydberg (Plymouth, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) finished the game in goal to secure the clean sheet.
UNW is now 2-0-1 and will head back to Reynolds Field on Wednesday, September 30, kicking off at 4:30 PM against the University of Minnesota-Morris.
