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Methodist University Athletics

The Official Athletics Site of The Methodist University monarchs Methodist University monarchs
3
Winner Methodist MU-W (1-0-0)
0
Aurora AURORA (0-1-0)
Winner
Methodist MU-W
(1-0-0)
3
Final
0
Aurora AURORA
(0-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Methodist MU-W 3 0 3
Aurora AURORA 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Early goals lead Monarchs to victory

MONTGOMERY, Ill.  First-half goals from Capri Clark and Haley Bowles were more than enough for Methodist's women's soccer team as the Monarchs opened their 2017 season with a 3-0 non-conference victory over host Aurora (Ill.) University Friday evening at Spartan Stadium.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Methodist 3, Aurora 0
Records: Methodist 1-0, Aurora 0-1
Location: Spartan Stadium, Montgomery, Ill.
Special note: Sixth Annual Chelsea Lloyd Memorial Classic


HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Methodist struck quickly in transition as a Haley Bowles feed to Capri Clark allowed Clark to sneak past the last defender and from 18 yards out launch a shot into the top shelf for the season-opening, and eventual game-winning, goal at the 9:35 mark of the first half.
  • Bowles doubled the Monarchs advantage in the 26th with a Beckham-style free kick from the top, left of the box. She lofted it over the wall with a curl into the top, left corner, leaving Aurora goalkeeper Taylor Joiner helpless.
  • Methodist pressure forced a miscue in the Spartans' defensive end, resulting in miscommunication between a defender and a charging Joiner, resulting in an own goal that pushed the advantage to three goals before the 38th minute of the season.
  • At the other end of the pitch, Monarch defenders were lightning quick in pouncing on any loose balls, sweeping away danger methodically all game long, allowing starting keeper Maggie Hunt clear lines of sight for three saves in her 82 minutes of action. Catie Gaughan's one save over the final eight minutes kept the Spartans off the scoreboard for a combined shutout.

BEYOND THE STATS
  • Friday's victory was the first season-opening win for Methodist since the 2015 season.
  • Clark led the team last season with 11 goals, getting a quick start on trying to surpass the number this season.
  • Friday's win in goal by Hunt is her first career victory.

A SPARTAN LOOK
  • Joiner finished the game with three saves for Aurora.
  • The Spartans finished the contest with same number of shots as Methodist, six, and accumulated a 5-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.

UP NEXT
  • Methodist squares off against Illinois College in a neutral-site, non-conference game Sunday at noon.
    
 
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