Muskingum University women’s soccer wrapped up their season as October came to a close with three final matches. The team had a hard fought season and we look forward to great things from them in seasons to come as they grow and learn with each other.
“As far as our season goes, as a program we are happy with the direction we are going. Our team is a young squad, and we asked a lot of our young athletes to step up in major ways. We are proud with the work ethic our women put into each practice and game. In games, we see more and more improvements with our style of play and how our players connect with each other. With our team being so young, we are so excited to see what the future holds for us next year. We are close to creating big-time results and we know with the energy our women have we will get there!” stated head coach Dani Gunderson.
Muskingum vs Ohio Northern (10/21)
On Saturday, the Polar Bears rolled into to town to take on the Muskingum University Women on Turf Field. The Muskies tried to take a lead early on when Maggie Short took a shot that was saved by Ohio Northern’s Morgan Moeller just three minutes into the contest.
A few minutes later the Polar Bear’s Julia Flanagan landed the first goal with an assist from Elizabeth Pierce to take a 1 – 0 lead over the Muskies. They tried to follow up quickly with another shot on the goal just over a minute later taken by Chandler Clark but is was blocked by the Muskies defense. Just under 12 minutes into the game, Emma Bowman took another shot for ONU but it was high. Gracie McNeal popped a shot at the goal next but hit the post. The Polar Bears Alexa Clampitt took her shot but it was grabbed by Kyleigh Dahlgren to keep the score close. Twenty minutes into the first period Isabelle Arnett-Tomasek took a shot for the Muskies only to have it saved by Morgan Moeller (ONU). Gracie McNeal took the next shot for Muskingum but missed wide.
Ohio Northern’s Kylie Cabana took a shot saved by Kelly Buck for the Muskies at 26:24. Shortly after Emma Bowman charged in with back-to-back shots both blocked followed by a shot by Clampitt that was saved by Kelly Buck.
Emma Morton took a shot for the Muskies just over 31 minutes in and it was saved by Morgan Moeller.
Nora Metcalf took a high shot for the ONU followed by a header shot by Alyssa Beckett that was saved by Kelly Buck to end the first period.
The second period of play started off dominated by the ONU squad as they took shot after shot followed by a successful goal by Kylie Cabana with an assist by Emma Bowman to take their lead up to 2 – 0 overs the Muskies.
The rest of the game was dominated by the Polar Bears as they controlled the ball with more shots on the goal and the walked away with the 2 – 0 victory.
For the game, the Muskies had seven shots, four corner kicks, and 11 saves. Freshman Gracie McNeal led with three shots, and Junior Jillian Laposky had one shot. Freshmen Emma Morton, Isabelle Arnett-Tomasek, and Maggie Short each had one shot.
Senior Kelly Buck had 10 saves in the game for Muskingum.
Muskingum vs Wilmington (10/25)
Wednesday in New Concord, Ohio the Wilmington Quakers rolled in bringing a 9-6-2 record for the season and ready to play. They wasted little time with five shots on goal in the first fifteen minutes of play. By the end of the first period of play the Quakers had 11 shots on goal but had not found the net.
For the Muskies Morgan Meisel and Gracie McNeal had the three shots on goal in the first half but they ended the half scoreless as well.
After the intermission, Kelly Buck stepped in as goalie for Muskingum. Quaker’s Jada Pohlen took a shot just over a minute into the period that went high. Muskies Maggie Short answered back with a shot of her own that was saved by Wilmington goalie Emma Storck.
Short came back just a few minutes later with a wide shot, but Wilmington took the ball back and headed downfield to position Alex Wilson for a shot that was saved by Buck. Kelly Buck saved four more shots on goal over the next twelve minutes before Wilson was able to slip one shot past her off of an assist by MJ Little taking the lead and the only score for the game at 1 – 0.
For the match, Muskingum had 10 shots, five corner kicks, and 11 saves. Morgan Meisel and Maggie Short each had three shots for the Muskies, Hannah Ritchie had 2 shots, while Gracie McNeal and Gabriella Wetherill each added a shot. Sophomore Kyleigh Dahlgren had four saves and Senior Kelly Buck added seven saves.
Muskingum at John Carroll (10/28)
The Muskies wrapped up their final game of the season with a visit to John Carroll University on Tuesday. The Blue Streaks stayed true to their name as they had three shots on goal in the first four minutes of the game followed by a goal by Emily Patrzyk off of an assist by Abby Smith just 4:27 into the game to take an early lead against the Muskies.
During the first half, the Streaks had seven more shots on goal before upping their score with a goal by Madyson Rosado off of an assist by Emma West midway through the period to take the score to 2 – 0 John Carroll.
JCU kept the bombardment coming as they persisted at the Muskies goal landing their third and final goal of the game just under 30 minutes into the match with a goal from Sara Gennuso on another Emma West assist to end the scoring for the game at 3 – 0.
For the game, the Muskies ended up with eight shots on goal, five corner kicks, and 14 saves. Junior Morgan Meisel had four shots to lead Muskingum, while teammates Hannah Ritchie, Britney Herrick, Emma Morton, and Gracie McNeal each had a shot. Kyleigh Dahlgren had seven saves while Kelly Buck recorded six saves.