Margaret BauerAnyone who has been following the Washington University women’s soccer team would know what a season sophomore midfielder Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn is having. Achieving their eighth victory of the season 1-0 this past Sunday against Milikin University, the sixth-ranked Bears continued their home win steak to 12 games. The University is now 16-2-2 at home in three seasons under head coach Wendy Dillinger. Their last loss came at the hands of the University of Chicago back in November of 2002.
In front of a crowd of 100 Bears fans, the Bear offense, as they have become accustomed to, dominated the action, outshooting Milikin 28-2. The Bears’ best play has generally come in the second half of games this season, where they have scored 15 of their 25 goals as well as kicked 117 of their 206 shots.
Sunday’s game was no different. Fowler-Finn scored the game-winner in the 61st minute as she took a pass from junior Jessie Munger. She then drilled a shot from 20 yards out past Milikin goalkeeper Melinda Usherwood for her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Munger’s assist was her second of the season.
The game-winning goal was the fourth of the season for Fowler-Finn and the sixth of her career. She is now tied for fifth all-time in game winning goals with Trisha Young (1997-2000), Sarah Wood (1997-2000), Cindy Palmer (1995-98) and Thorunn Ragnarsson (1991-92). The amazing part of this equation is that Fowler-Finn is only a sophomore and still has the rest of the 2004 season, as well as her junior and senior seasons to move up on the all-time Bears goals list.
The University dominated play in the opening half, outshooting the Milikin Big Blue 14-2 and holding an 8-0 advantage on corner kicks. Neither team had many scoring opportunities in the first half, but Usherwood kept the game at a scoreless tie by making six first-half saves. In the second half, the Bear defense didn’t allow the Big Blue to get one shot off.Senior Charlotte Felber made two saves in the win for the University as she improved to 8-1 on the season. Felber now has 27 career wins in goal, which ties her for second on the all-time WU list with Jennifer Haddad (1990-92).
Washington University (8-1) begins its University Athletic Association (UAA) title defense Sunday, Oct. 3 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.