Eagles Score Three, Keep Clean Sheet To Beat Purdue Northwest

For 44 minutes, the Ashland University women's soccer team was dominating play in every area against Purdue Northwest, except on the scoreboard.
 
The Eagles broke through with 37 seconds left in the first half, then tacked on two more goals in the second period for a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Pride on Friday (April 9) night at Ferguson Field.
 
"We told them before the game that we needed a team effort and we definitely got that," said head coach Taylor Clarke. "On our chances, through our build-up, it was all connected through the team. For them to put that at the front of their minds and follow through with it was awesome to see."
 
The Eagles had a 17-1 advantage in shots with the Pride's only attempt at goal coming in the final minute of the game.

AU was dominant from the outset, creating numerous chances in front of goal from across the front line.
 
The only thing missing was the final touch and junior Allison Robertson provided it hitting a cross from freshman Vanessa Menchofer on a volley with her left foot and smashing it inside the keeper's near post. Menchofer did excellently on the end line to beat her defender and send in the cross that wound up at the back post for Robertson to hit first time.

"It's a performance we see all the time in training (from Robertson)," said Clarke. "She's been able to build up her confidence and let it show. We needed somebody to step up and break lines in the midfield. She did it with her dribble and her passing, and then obviously, she finished a chance in a moment we needed it."
 
It was the perfect ending to a half that had the Eagles on the front foot.

"They had the confidence and understood the chances were going to come," Clarke said. "They had to stay confident in themselves and also be willing to sacrifice and put their bodies on the line. We knew the chances and goals would come."
 
In the second half, the Eagles added on.
 
Just three minutes after halftime, sophomore Bailey Clark led a high press and forced a turnover deep in Purdue Northwest territory. The ball came to senior Nadya Boualany, whose shot was initially saved by Bridget Grady, but junior Hannah Mueller was there to tap in the rebound.
 
Ten minutes later, Boualany carried a ball in the midfield before playing a perfect through-ball behind the defense to release junior Brianna Fourman, who smashed a left-footed shot under the bar to make it 3-0.
 
The Eagles maintained the lead from there as Clarke was able to get much of his team on the pitch and tinker with players in new positions at times.
 
Senior goalkeepers Hannah Lee and Abby Lampe combined to keep the clean sheet, the Eagles' first of the season.
 
The Eagles will now play host to Parkside on Sunday (April 11) at 1 p.m. at Ferguson Field.