The Ashland University women's soccer team scored three goals in a wild 80-second stretch in the second half to pull away from Charleston (W.Va.), 4-1, on Wednesday (Sept. 12) afternoon at Ferguson Field.
The Eagles (4-0-1) have now won four straight games and extended their season-opening unbeaten streak to five.
Ashland controlled the game from the opening kickoff and did not really allow a quality chance until Charleston (1-4) scored in the same 80-second stretch in which AU scored three times.
The Eagles got on the board in the 16th minute. Ashland won a corner kick and freshman Mary Grace Haney delivered a perfect ball destined for the head of junior Deijah Swihart, who rocketed a header for her third goal of the season.
The game remained 1-0 going into halftime, and neither team got on the board again until the 70th minute. Freshman Makenzie Kelly made a long run down the right flank to the end line and touched a pass back for sophomore Hannah Simard, who waited six yards from the goal for the tap-in. It was Simard's first goal of the season.
Just 37 seconds later, Simard set up the next goal as she sent in a short cross from the left and Swihart drove it home for her second goal of the game.
Charleston scored just 24 seconds later, but Ashland responded nine seconds after that. Off the kickoff, junior Sydney Wright played a ball over the top for junior Emily Ledbetter, who outmuscled a defender and scored to give Ashland a 4-1 lead. It was Ledbetter's first goal of the season.
Sophomore Hannah Lee did not need to make a save in the game as the Eagles allowed just one shot on goal.
Ashland held a 10-4 lead in total shots and a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Eagles will play Davenport on Friday (Sept. 14) at 7 p.m. at Ferguson Field in a nonconference game.
AU
WSOC/BB
