Ashland University's women's soccer team started its second 2021 season on Thursday (Sept. 2) afternoon in Westfield, Ind., playing regional foe and No. 4-ranked McKendree to a 1-1 draw after briefly leading in the second half.
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WHAT HAPPENED
- Thursday's first half was what one might expect for a first game of a new season – a feeling-out process in which the Eagles outshot the Bearcats, 4-2. Both of McKendree's shots were on goal, while one of four AU tries were.
- The second half saw more action, as both of the contest's goals were potted in the second 45 minutes. In the 57th minute, Eagle freshman forward/midfielder McKinley Mendenhall scored her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate game, with senior midfielder Hannah Mueller getting the assist. McKendree then tied it up in the 69th minute.
- In the two 10-minute overtime periods, Ashland had the only two shots, neither of which were on goal.
- Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Dolenga made her first collegiate start and appearance for AU, playing all 110 minutes and making three saves.
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NOTES
- The Eagles' starting 11 to begin the fall was a primarily veteran group – six seniors, one junior, one sophomore and three freshmen.
- Both teams started playing a traditional fall season after playing a 2021 spring campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashland was 8-2-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the spring, while McKendree was 14-2-1 overall and 11-2-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
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UP NEXT
Ashland's second game of the young 2021 fall slate will be Saturday (Sept. 4) at 2 p.m. at Bloomsburg (1-0).
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