Margaret BauerThe Washington University women’s soccer team improved its record to 3-0 for the season with a 2-1 victory over Webster University on Tuesday night in the team’s home opener.
The game, the first soccer match ever played on the renovated Francis Field, was close in score if not in play. The University outshot its opponent 24-2 while holding a 15-1 edge on corner kicks. The Bears captured the lead early on with a goal by senior Kara Karnes. The goal, Karnes’s first of the season, came on a rebounded shot from sophomore Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn. Webster tied the game with 34 seconds remaining in the first half. The Bears had shutout their previous two opponents, making Webster’s goal the first allowed this season.
The Bears broke the tie in the 47th minute on a goal by Fowler-Finn. Senior goaltender Charlotte Felber played the complete game while notching her third win of the season. For her efforts this past week, Felber was rewarded with University Athletic Association (UAA) Athlete of the Week honors. Freshman midfielder Kim O’Keefe also garnered a UAA Athlete of the Week award. O’Keefe scored the game-winning goal in the team’s upset of DePauw University. The Bears have already toppled two top-10 opponents this season. They beat no. 3 ranked DePauw and no. 8 ranked Wheaton College. As a result of their impressive start, the Bears rose to become the no. 9 ranked team in the nation-up from no. 16.
For the season, Fowler-Finn leads the Bears with two goals. She also has one assist. Overall, the Bears have been dominant. They have averaged 18 shots a game to their opponents’ eight. They have also shot 23 corner kicks to their opponents’ 11. The one category the Bears trail their opponents in is fouls; the team has committed 44 fouls to their oppositions’ 31.
The team next plays this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.