The Ashland University women's soccer team turned in a dominant performance as it opened GLIAC play with a 2-0 win at Purdue Northwest on Friday (Oct. 4) afternoon in Hammond, Ind.
The Eagles (6-1-1, 1-0 GLIAC) are undefeated in their last five games and have won three straight. They improved their goal differential on the season to 17-7.
Ashland did not surrender a shot in the first half on Friday and scored both its goals in a two-minute stretch before halftime.
The first goal came in the 35th minute when sophomore center back Tori Baker sent a long ball over the top to sophomore Faith Lewis, whose run took her 1-on-1 with the keeper. Lewis one-touched the ball past the keeper to open the scoring. It was Lewis' fourth goal of the season and Baker's third assist.
Ashland doubled its lead in the 37th minute as Lewis took the ball off a PNW defender near midfield and immediately played a through-ball to a running Emily Ledbetter, who took a touch and left-footed it past the Pride's keeper to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. It marked the second goal of the season for Ledbetter and Lewis' second assist.
The game was played more evenly in the second half, with the teams tying in total shots, 6-6, as the Pride (1-6-1, 0-1 GLIAC) pushed more numbers forward. Junior Hannah Lee made four saves and the Eagles kept a clean sheet.
Conference play resumes on Sunday (Oct. 6) when the Eagles travel to Parkside for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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