Nationally-Ranked Thomas More Cruises Past Presidents
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- Thomas More scored 84 seconds into match and never looked back during a 6-0 Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s soccer victory over Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday afternoon at the Bank of Kentucky Field.
The Saints (17-1, 9-0 PAC), ranked 19th nationally by D3soccer.com, have won 10 consecutive matches and clinched the No. 1 seed and hosting rights for next week’s PAC Tournament. The six-goal setback W&J's largest of margin of defeat since second round of the 2008 NCAA Division III playoffs when Messiah advanced by the same score.
The Presidents (9-7-1, 5-2-1 PAC) fell into a third-place tie with Waynesburg, but can still earn the No. 2 seed and a semifinal home game depending on this weekend’s results. W&J needs a win over Bethany Saturday, a Waynesburg loss or tie to Thomas More (Saturday at 6:00 pm) and a Grove City loss or tie versus Westminster (Saturday at 2:30 pm) to clinch the No. 2 seed.
Courtney Clark headed home the first goal Wednesday off corner kick passes from Sam Work and Kirstie Reilman. TMC upped its advantage to 2-0 six minutes later when Lauren Wietmarschen scored off a feed from Reilman.
Olivia Huber gave the hosts a 3-0 halftime with a goal in the 33rd minute. Just 19 seconds after the second half kickoff, Chrissy Sonderman made it a 4-0 game and Huber set up Wietmarschen’s second goal in the 68th minute. Molly Liebel tacked on the final goal with just over 10 minutes remaining.
W&J was outshot by a 20-9 margin and Abbie McBride only had to recorded five saves for the Saints. Freshman Sarah Youngblood (Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley) made her second career start for the Presidents, filling in for injured sophomore Mattie Follen (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon). Youngblood finished with six saves.
The Presidents and Bison will play on Senior Day at Alexandre Stadium Saturday at 1:00 pm.
