An early-second half goals blitz lifted the No. 13-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team to a 4-1 win over Northwood on Tuesday (Nov. 4) night at Ferguson Field – clinching the 2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
The Eagles' third Great Midwest regular-season title saw them move to 12-2-4 overall and 10-0-4 in the league – thanks to an 11-0-4 mark in the last 15 outings. The Timberwolves are 10-2-5, 7-2-5.
"If I look back at all the conference championships that we've won here, this one probably means the most," said Ashland head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "We've handled adversity throughout the year, we graduated a ton of players, we lost three potential starters to start the year.
"I just think the next person came up, and that's what makes Ashland special. Finding ways to keep continuing to do what we do. I'm unbelievably proud of this group."
After a penalty kick was awarded to the Eagles in the 21
st minute, senior forward
Dani Hicks potted her 12
th goal of the fall to put AU up on the scoreboard.
"We were looking around to see who was going to step up and take it," said Paulino, "and that's a kid who wants to be a leader and put the team on her back."
The Timberwolves leveled the score in the 24
th minute when Ella Boyd deposited an unassisted goal.
Ashland took the first few plays of the second half and scored twice in less than two minutes. The Eagles were the beneficiary of an own goal in the 46
th minute, then senior midfielder
Emily Pate's sixth goal of the season on assists from freshman forward
Tessa Blain (fourth) and Hicks (team-high eighth) in the 47
th minute made it a 3-1 contest.
"This is the M.O. of this group this year. They're finding ways to do it," Paulino said. "This group continues to find ways, and that's what I'm most proud of."
Blain and Hicks then tag-teamed Ashland's fourth and final goal in the 66
th minute, as Blain scored her seventh goal of the season, and Hicks picked up her second helper of the night and ninth of the season.
"She's just figured out that next gear the last couple of weeks," Paulino said of Blain, who has scored four goals in the last five games. "She's been big in big moments for us."
THE REST OF THE WINNING STORY
- Fifth-year goalkeeper Jaya Daniel (11-1-4) made three saves on Tuesday night, as the two teams each took seven shots.
- Ashland had all three of the game's corner kicks.
NEXT UP
Ashland hosting the 2025 Great Midwest Tournament Final Four on Nov. 13 and 15.
