ELSAH, IL – After the Principia Women's Soccer team's first conference home game was postponed a day due to a thunderstorm, the Panthers' offense exploded for eight goals against Eureka College for their first win of the season.
The Panthers got off to a quick start as they found the back of the net less then three minutes in. A dangerous ball into the box from
Kaylee Kleist found
Rachael Williams on the far post for the goal. Five minutes later, Williams was involved in the box again, this time sneaking a pass through the defense which was punched over the line by
Sarah Smith. In the 22nd minute,
Dachelle Carter sent Williams down the line where she unleashed a rocket on goal. The keeper did well to save it, but the rebound fell right to a poaching Smith, who finessed a finish between defenders for her third goal in two games. Two minutes later, the Panthers added a fourth as Williams won the ball off of a Eureka defender outside of the box, turned, and unleashed a stunning knuckleball in the top corner of the goal.
Principia would add two more late in the first half with a pair of pretty goals from
Dachelle Carter. The first came when a flicked-on header by Kleist off a long ball from
Christin Walls sent Carter in one-on-one with the keeper, and she neatly slotted in the near post. The second was headed home by Carter from an outstanding chip into the box by
Adriana Rucks. Carter would go on to complete her hat trick by scoring late in the second half on a bullet header from a perfectly placed
Kannon Gill corner kick. The final goal for the Panthers came a few minutes later off another set piece delivery from Gill, which found the head of a streaking
Zayana Brown for her first collegiate goal.
Carter's teammates and coaches were thrilled to see her hard work rewarded by a hat trick as she showcased her aggressiveness in the air and constant shooting threat. Smith has done a great job at arriving in dangerous areas anytime we're in the attack, as evidenced by all three of her recent goals. Williams was dangerous all game as her defensive pressing, speed of transition, and relentlessness in the attacking third created a flurry of Principia chances – her two goals and an assist were the icing on the cake.
Aylin Acosta continued her great play in the midfield, facilitating the Panthers attack and constantly shifting where Eureka was able to try to apply pressure. Kleist and Gill each getting two assists was well-earned as their hard work and unselfish play had a big positive impact on team performance. Credit also goes out to the entire defense who earned the team's first shutout of the year.
"Special thanks to Eureka for making the trek down here twice in two days, as well as the refs for moving commitments around to allow this game to happen," said Coach Thomas after the game. "We were frustrated with the Blackburn scoreline because we felt we played well enough for a win, but it was great to see us take the steps in tonight's game to finish our chances and really seal the performance with better finishing. We hope to carry the momentum from tonight into our next game against an unfamiliar, new team in our conference."
Up Next: This Saturday at 3:00 pm, the Panthers will host Lyon College for the first time as the Scots joined the SLIAC over the summer.
Hear more comments from Coach Thomas after the game:
