The 2023 Ashland University women's soccer team has carved out quite a start to the season.
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On Sunday (Sept. 10) afternoon at Ferguson Field, the No. 16-ranked Eagles moved to 4-0 after an impressive 3-0 win against No. 4-ranked Ferris State (2-1-1). The AU win came in a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Division II playoff game at Cedarville, which the Eagles lost in the ninth shootout round.
Sunday's victory also was Ashland's second against a Top 10 team at the time of the game so far in 2023 - following topping then-No. 8 Grand Valley State on the road in the season-opener on Aug. 31.
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Ashland has allowed just one goal in the first four outings of the season – the fewest in the first four contests of a campaign since 2016 (also one).
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NOTABLES
- The 29th minute saw freshman midfielder Clara Richardson score her first collegiate goal on a long shot left to right, and unassisted, to put the Eagles ahead.
- In the 64th minute, junior defender Hope Evans potted her first AU goal on a deflection off a free kick by junior midfielder Merrik Mihalek. The assist was Mihalek's first of 2023.
- Junior forward McKinley Mendenhall put a penalty kick in for her first goal of 2023 and a 3-0 advantage in the 71st minute following a Bulldog handball in the box.
- Senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Simon and the Eagle defense allowed just seven shots, and Simon didn't have to make a save on Sunday.
- Ashland had a 9-7 advantage in shots, and an 8-3 lead in corner kicks.
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QUOTABLES
- "We divide the year up into seasons," noted Ashland head coach Cayleb Paulino. "The non-conference is season one, and this is probably our four toughest (non-conference) games we've ever played as a program. We're progressing in the right direction and getting better every game."
- "The (defensive) group kind of bought in to, 'Here's what they do, let's try to take it away,'" Paulino said.
- "We've been surviving off being really good defensively," said Paulino. "Clara stepped up in a big moment and got her first career goal, which is really good to see."
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UP NEXT
The start of 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday (Sept. 16) at 5:30 p.m. at Malone (3-0 prior to home game vs. Ursuline on Tuesday (Sept. 12)).
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