Ashland Women Lose 2022 Opener At Embry-Riddle, 3-1

One could excuse the women's soccer teams from Ashland University and Embry-Riddle if they thought they were looking into a mirror Thursday (Aug. 25) night in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
- Both teams won both their respective regular-season and conference tournaments, and both made the NCAA Division II postseason, last fall.
 
- Both teams received votes in the 2022 national preseason poll released by the United Soccer Coaches.
 
- And both teams are nicknamed the "Eagles."
 
Unfortunately for Ashland on Thursday, the similarities ended there, as Embry-Riddle won the 2022 lid-lifter for both teams, 3-1.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Embry-Riddle took a 3-0 lead on goals in the 11^th, 16^th and 27^th minutes.
• The score would remain 3-0 until the 59^th minute, when Ashland freshman forward/midfielder Dani Hicks scored her first collegiate goal on a feed from sophomore forward McKinley Mendenhall.

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Senior goalkeeper Bri Rogers made three saves in the first half. Sophomore keeper Maddie Dolenga played the second half and didn't see a shot on goal.
• Embry-Riddle out-shot AU, 9-7, and doubled up Ashland in shots on goal, 6-3. The northern Eagles had the advantage in corner kicks, 7-2.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland's women will finish their short Florida road trip on Saturday (Aug. 27) at 10 a.m. at Rollins, who opened its 2022 campaign at home vs. Findlay.