WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University women's soccer team (4-1) returned to defend its home turf on Wednesday night against Gordon College (1-4-1). The Cougars scored twice in the first half before exploding for four more goals in the second half. Gordon added a late goal, setting the final score at 6-1.
How it Happened
- The Cougars fired three shots in the first two minutes of the game, including a shot on goal from junior Georgia Louis.
- Clark continued to pepper the goal with shots, finally breaking through in the 13th minute. Junior Selene Hammad passed back to sophomore Marcela Gonyea, who launched a ball into the back of the net from beyond the 18-yard line to make it 1-0.
- The Cougars continued to generate chances, breaking through again late in the half. First-year Caroline Knecht and sophomore Calabria Augustino combined to set up a Louis breakaway. This time, Louis would not be denied as she raced inside the box and calmly buried the second goal of the game for Clark.
- A late shot on goal from Gordon was saved by senior Gabrielle Huryn as the half ended with Clark leading 2-0.
- Augustino generated the first chance of the second half, firing a shot on goal that was saved away in the 52nd minute.
- Another chance came in the 63rd minute, with Louis making a terrific run before dropping off a pass to an unmarked Hammad, whose shot was saved by inches to keep the lead at just two goals.
- The Cougars broke through in the 74th minute, with Hammad sending Louis forward. Louis dropped a perfect pass across the face of the goal to the waiting junior Madeleine Reeves for the tap-in finish.
- Reeves would one-up herself just four minutes later with a stellar free-kick finish from well outside the 18-yard line into the top-left corner of the net to make it 4-0 and secure her brace.
- Junior Delaney Schappert would put the game away in the 82nd minute, scoring on the second effort after her initial shot was saved to make it a five-goal game.
- Huryn added a late save in the 86th minute, with the Cougars breaking away following the save for yet another goal. This time, Knecht and first-year Layla Keltai assisted senior Ainsley Golini for a sixth Clark goal.
- Gordon prevented the shutout in the final 90 seconds, with Willow Forbes-Smith finding Marin Peterson for a late goal that set the final score at 6-1 for Clark.
Inside the Box Score
- The Cougars fired 24 shots, with 12 landing on target. They also earned six corners and drew six fouls. The six goals mark the fourth time in five games this season that Clark has scored three or more goals.
- Gonyea scored the opener, her second of the season and fourth of her career.
- Reeves scored a brace, marking the second and third times this season she has found the back of the net and the fifth and sixth goals of her career.
- Louis added a goal and an assist, marking the fourth straight game she has scored a goal this season and the third time in four games with a goal and an assist. She is up to 18 goals and 16 assists in her career.
- Schappert and Golini each found the back of the net, marking the second career goal for Schappert and the first collegiate goal for Golini.
- Knecht had a pair of assists, the first assists of her collegiate career. Keltai also recorded her first career assist in the win.
- Hammad had a pair of assists as well, the second time this season she has recorded two assists in a single game. She is now up to nine assists in her career.
- Augustino recorded an assist to join the party, her second of the season and eighth of her career.
- Huryn made her first start of the season, recording three saves and picking up the win in net.
What's Next
The Scarlet and White open NEWMAC play, hosting WPI on Saturday at 1:00 PM in a game promoting Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness.
