NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After a scoreless first half, the Carleton College women's soccer team changed its style of play and was rewarded with a trio of second-half goals in a 3-0 triumph over visiting Grinnell College.
The Knights (2-0-2) scored multiple goals for the third time in four matches this season.
"I am really happy with the team performance today," said Carleton College head coach
Jessica Mueller. "In the first half, we were a bit disconnected up top and too easy to mark in the midfield. While we had most of the ball and were able to get in behind, we struggled to get quality chances. In the second half, we played our forwards closer together so that we could combine with numbers and send our outside backs higher, and they executed. It's always fun to see multiple players score, contribute, and make an impact against a quality opponent like Grinnell."
After out-shooting the visitors 9-2 in the first half, the change in style quickly paid off for the Knights. A well-place through ball by
Lily Hurtubise (Sr./Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron) sprung
Casey MacVeagh (So./Thetford, Vt./Thetford Academy) behind the Grinnell (1-2-0) backline, and the Carleton sophomore slotted home the game winner in the 48th minute.
Twelve minutes later the constant pressured yielded another score. This time a shot by
Kira Kunzman (So./Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington) inside the box was blocked, but the ball caromed directly to
Chloe Jones (Jr./Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central) who calmly blasted the ball into the open left side of the net for her first collegiate goal.
The Knights sealed the victory with a transition goal in the 71st minute.
Saheli Patel (Fy./Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) carried the ball up the left wing and found MacVeagh making a run near the top of the box. With the Grinnell goalie racing off her line, MacVeagh's one touch pass to the right eluded the hard-charging keeper and left Hurtubise to notch the empty net goal.
The Knights finished the day with a 24-4 edge in shots.
Ezra Kucur (Fy./Seattle, Wash./University Prep) registered her first collegiate shutout.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton opens MIAC Play when the Knights host Saint Mary's University for a 4:00 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
