AU Women Top Trojans, Remain Unbeaten In Great Midwest Play

Ashland University's women's soccer team remained in the driver's seat for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season championship on Thursday (Oct. 28), defeating Trevecca Nazarene, 4-1, at Ferguson Field.
 
The Eagles moved to 11-1-3 overall and 10-0-2 in the Great Midwest, while the Trojans are 7-6-3, 6-4-2.
 
"The GMAC is very competitive," said Ashland head coach Cayleb Paulino. "If you don't play your best soccer, anybody can get a result. We got settled in and played some really good soccer. It's always good to see a variety of scoring from this group."
 
Ashland remains a point behind first-place Findlay, but the Eagles have two regular-season contests remaining, to the Oilers' one.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
- In the 28^th minute, senior midfielder Emily Mark rocketed her second goal of the fall from the left side. She was fed by freshman forward Julianna Williams, who recorded her second assist of the season.
- Then, in the 36^th minute, Williams potted her third goal of the campaign, unassisted, to push the AU lead to 2-0.
"This is her best game, by far," Paulino said. "The work rate was great. When you work hard, you create your own luck. Jules put herself in position to put one in the back of the net, which is great, and had an assist as well, which is awesome."
Said Williams, "When I go on the field, I just try to make the biggest impact I can. Not starting and being able to watch what everybody else is doing, and then applying it when I go on, makes a difference.
"I'm so excited. I absolutely love this team. Our team chemistry has contributed a lot to how well the team has done this season. Everyone has come together really well."
- It didn't take the Eagles long to make it a 3-0 score, as, in the 48^th minute, Mark got her second goal of the game (the first brace of her career) and third of the season, and the assist on the cross went to senior defender Rylie Howman, for her fourth assist of the fall.
"We're playing her in a little different role," Paulino noted of Mark. "We're allowing her to get higher up the field and create chances, and she's good on the ball."
- The scoreboard was changed to 4-0 in the 49^th minute when freshman forward Avery Rosso picked up her third goal of the season on a strike from the left side. That tally was unassisted.
- Trevecca Nazarene spoiled the clean sheet in the 80^th minute when Kennedy Mullins scored on a corner kick from Ariana Bilderback.
- Ashland out-shot the Trojans, 17-8, and had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.
- Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Dolenga made three saves for her first collegiate victory.
 
UP NEXT
Ashland will go to Ursuline (5-9-0, 4-8-0) on Saturday (Oct. 30) at 1 p.m. for the next-to-last regular-season game of the fall.