It's a typical refrain for the No. 8-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team – score early, play great defense, and win the game.
On Saturday (Oct. 5) night at Ferguson Field, the Eagles needed just one goal thanks to a fourth consecutive clean sheet, and beat visiting Cedarville, 1-0. Ashland is 7-1-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – and alone in first place atop the league table.
"The first half, we played unbelievable," said Ashland head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "It's an emotional game. It's a game with two highly-talented programs. We hang our hat on being one of the best defensive teams in the country."
The Yellow Jackets are 4-4-2, 3-2-1.
In the 22
nd minute, Ashland junior forward
Dani Hicks scored her team-high seventh goal of the season – on a kick that looked more like a cross than a shot which went off the hands of Cedarville goalkeeper Brooke Ackley. Senior defender
Julianna Williams sent Hicks down the field for her first assist of the fall.
That goal was enough for the Eagle defense, which turned in its seventh clean sheet of the season and 26
th since the start of 2023. Fifth-year goalkeeper
Mackenzie Simon didn't face a shot on goal in the first half, and senior keeper
Maddie Dolenga made three saves – including two leaping ones – in the second half.
"They went ultra-attacking," Paulino said of Cedarville in the second half. "They did an unbelievable job. Maddie was called upon, like we ask Kenz to do, and she made big saves.
"That's why we have those two here."
One of the key players in front of Simon and Dolenga is senior defender
Hope Evans – a starter at the beginning of 2023 before a season-ending injury, and who has drawn back into the starting lineup of late.
"It's a team mentality," Evans said. "Every single player on this field is working to protect our goalie. We pride ourselves in our defense. It's just awesome to step on this field and play with these great players.
"Last year didn't go as expected, but I'm just taking this season with so much gratitude every single day."
…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- The Eagles out-shot the Yellow Jackets 11-1 in the first half, but Cedarville returned the favor 11-7 in the second half.
- In corner kicks, each team took four on Saturday night. Ashland entered the game as the No. 2 team in NCAA Division II in corner kicks per game at 10.13.
- Ashland has topped Cedarville five consecutive times, and is 8-2 all-time in the series.
UP NEXT
Ashland will go on the road for a rare in-season non-conference game on Wednesday (Oct. 9) at 7 p.m. at Slippery Rock (4-2-3).
