Box Score LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER PAGE
THE TURNING POINT: Eagles Morgan Bittengle and Deijah Swihart scored goals 1:06 apart to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead 9:19 into the match.
STAT OF THE GAME: Ashland has earned three consecutive shutout victories for the first time since doing so from Oct. 6-13, 2013.
The No. 23-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team defeated Clarion on Sunday (Sept. 11) to improve to 3-0-1 on the season. The Eagles have won three straight in shutout fashion, with a combined score of 9-0 in those games.
"Our goal has been to get shutouts," said Ashland head coach Danny Krispinsky. "But it just doesn't happen by saying it. It really has been a commitment defensively from our entire team, starting with our top-line players."
The Eagles outshot Clarion 25-2 throughout the game.
"I thought that we were good on the ball today," Krispinsky said. "We dictated the game with our possession and with our defensive shape and commitment."
Junior Morgan Bittengle started the scoring for Ashland on an assist from sophomore Deijah Swihart during the ninth minute to give the team a 1-0 lead over the Golden Eagles.
Just 1:06 later, Bittengle returned the favor as she dished a pass to Swihart for a score.
Scoring-wise, the second half was no different. Swihart and Bittengle each scored again on goals assisted by sophomore Lauren Gokey and junior Carson Janssen, respectively. Ashland jumped out to a 4-0 lead and kept it for the final 26:26 of the game.
Bittengle now leads the team with three goals on the season. Swihart's two goals put her in second.
"I like the way that we're playing," Krispinsky said. "But we still have a lot of room to build. We have no clue who was 23rd in the nation last year on Sept. 11. So it doesn't really matter right now. We're more concerned with how we perform and how we play."
UP NEXT: The Eagles will welcome Charleston (W.Va.) to Ferguson Field on Thursday (Sept. 15) at 1 p.m.
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