ELGIN, Ill. - The No. 13 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Women's Soccer team got their season underway today with a match at Judson University. It was a game of firsts for Head Coach Hannah Shay and the Wildcats as Shay earned her first career win at IWU and 3 freshman scored their first career goals. The game started with the Wildcats keeping the pressure on the Eagles but no goals were scored until after the midway through the half break due to heat. IWU started where they left off after the break and kept the ball on the Judson side of the field. The first goal of the season for IWU came in the 34th minute when Aliyah Denton outran the defense and crossed the ball past the goalie to freshman Carlie Grosser. The score marked Grosser's first career goal. Later in the first period, Wildcat defender Alyssa Hamann cleared a ball downfield to Jada Swanson who dribbled in and crossed to another freshman in Tylar Whitaker who also scored her first career goal as a Wildcat. The second half was more of the same as IWU controlled the ball and attacked often. Sydney Couch scored from about 30 yards for the third goal of the game at the 49 minute mark. Couch now has 2 career goals, both against Judson. At the 60 minute mark, the Wildcats controlled a goalie kick in the Judson zone and a beautiful header through two defenders led to a third freshman, Avery Williams, scoring for the red and grey. Carlie Grosser scored her second goal and the last of the game off an assist from Anna Pettitt in the 75th minute. With this win, Coach Shay earns her first career head coaching win with IWU.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Elgin, Ill. | Dawson Field
- Records: IWU: 1-0-0 (0-0-0) | JU: 0-1-0 (0-0-0)
- NAIA Top-25 Poll: IWU - #13 | JU - Unranked
WHAT HAPPENED
- Carlie Grosser scored the first goal of the game off an assist from Aliyah Denton in the 34th minute.
- The second goal of the first half occurred in the 43rd minute when Jada Swanson assisted Tylar Whitaker.
- After halftime, Sydney Couch nailed a long ball that rolled past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper to extend the lead to 3-0.
- Freshman Avery Williams joined the goal scoring party in the 60th minute for her first career goal.
- Grosser added another goal to her impressive freshman debut to put an exclamation point on the 5-0 shutout win for the Wildcats.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- 16: IWU blasted the Judson defense, registering 16 shots in each half.
- 1: It was a game of firsts as Coach Shay earned her first career head coaching win and three freshman scored their first career goals.
- 2: Sydney Couch has 2 career goals against Judson, scoring one last year and one today.
SHAY PERSPECTIVE
- "This win is just a reflection of the amazing young women on the team and their hard work during pre-season," said Head Coach Hannah Shay. "They are excited to see each other succeed and play for Christ. We have amazing upperclassmen leading the charge, and a group of talented freshman. It was fun to see so many of them get their first college goals and watch the group celebrate together. We're excited for the season ahead."
LOOKING FORWARD
- IWU faces off with the University of Northwestern Ohio next Wednesday, August 27th in Marion at 7:00 PM.
- Links for video, stats, and tickets are available at IWUWildcats.com.
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