Strong second half propels Women's Soccer past Thomas More (Ky.) 3-0 for fifth successive victory
By Blake Moore
ADA - The Ohio Northern women's soccer team used a three-goal second half scoring outsburst to post its fifth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, blanking the Thomas More (Ky.) Saints 3-0 at Kerscher Stadium in Ada.
The Polar Bears now climb to 5-2-0 overall in 2018 while the Saints fall to 1-8-0 on the season.
After a tight-knit, scoreless first stanza, Northern would receive a pair of goals from sophomore forward Jenna Fuller (Countryside, Ill./Lyons Township) and a single brace from sophomore forward/midfielder Megan Breier (Plainfield, Ill./North) to power the offensive charge.
Fuller would be the first to break into the scoring column for ONU when she notched her fifth goal of the season in the 49th minute. The sophomore capitalized on a Rose Nienaber (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) shot that rebounded off the left post and fell directly at her feet, booting the ball into the net for the 1-0 advantage. Nienaber and junior Haley Moses (Mason) would each record an assist on the first goal of the afternoon.
Eight minutes later, Breier would record her first goal of the 2018 season, blasting an unassisted shot from the right side of the goal just inside the penalty box. The shot attempt would sail over the outstretched fingertips of Thomas More goalkeeper Maddy Kim and find the left side netting to double the lead.
The Polar Bears would put an exclamation point on the victory in the 60th minute when Fuller capped off her multi-goal performance on another rebounded ball. Sophomore midfielder Courtney Favazzo (Mayfield Heights/Mayfield) found an open Abigail Mathews (Liberty Township/Lakota East), who put a long-range shot on frame to start the play. Kim would make the save, but the shot caromed off the crossbar right to Fuller who tapped it in for her second goal of the contest.
Fuller now owns a team-high six goals in 2018 following her two-goal effort Saturday.
In net, junior goalkeeper Meagan Grierson registered her fifth straight shutout, improving her win-loss record to 5-2-0 on the year. She would be called upon just once in the weekend affair, making a spectacular diving save to her left side.
With the clean sheet, her season goals against average dips to 0.56 on the season.
Despite holding just a 4-1 shots advantage after the opening frame, the Polar Bears would end the match with a comfortable 20-2 margin, including 10-1 mark in shots on goal. Ohio Northern would also hold a 6-2 advantage in total corner kicks on the afternoon.
Ohio Northern is scheduled to wrap up its 2018 nonconference slate Tuesday evening as they play host to Wittenberg. Match time is set for 7 p.m. from Kerscher Stadium in Ada.
