Second half surge leads Women's Soccer to 5-1 victory over Heidelberg

By Caleb Scott

ADA - The Ohio Northern women's soccer team scored four goals in the second half en route to a 5-1 victory over Heidelberg Wednesday evening at Kerscher Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 9-6-1 overall and 5-1-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Student Princes fall to 7-9-0, 2-4-0.

The Polar Bear offense was led by junior Shelby Stephens as she scored two goals.

After going scoreless for the first 33 minutes, sophomore Abbey Oswald got Northern on the board as she dribbled past a defender and beat the keeper to give ONU the 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. 

Heidelberg would get one back in the 48th minute to even the score at 1-1.

Northern would regain the lead after Stephens beat the defender inside the 18 yard box and scored from the right half of the field in the 56th minute to give the Polar Bears the 2-1 lead.

Stephens wasted no time as she found the back of the net again in the 57th minute after she received a pass from sophomore Mary Kate Munz and beat the HU keeper from just inside the 18.

In the 75th minute, Stephens would draw a foul inside the 18 to set up a penalty kick for junior Missy Ward for her second goal of the season to put Northern ahead 4-1.

Sophomore Hailey Martin would steal the ball from Heidelberg in the 81st minute and score her first career goal to seal the 5-1 victory.

Senior Emily Brodict earned the victory in the goal for Ohio Northern to improve to 9-6-1 on theis a key piece to us staying competitive late in the season."

Northern out shot the Student Princes 20-6 and edged them in corner kicks 5-1.year.

"I was very happy with the second half effort our girls showed tonight," said head coach Mark Batman. "With some of our key contributers out, we really showed the depth this team has. Depth 

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday evening as they travel to New Concord to take on the Muskies of Muskingum at 7 pm.