David LeonardNeither Mother Nature nor the University of St. Thomas could stop the women’s soccer team as the Bears defeated the Tommies, 5-1, after a thunderstorm halted play for almost an hour in the second half.
After a scoreless first period, senior co-captain Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn ignited the Bears offense with a goal in the 49th minute. Junior Kim O’Keefe served a low ball across the face of the goal that found Fowler-Finn on the doorstep for a one-timer. The goal was her fourth of the season and her third in the last two games.
And then the rains came. Play was stopped six minutes into the second half with Wash. U. ahead, 1-0. A game is not official until the 70th minute.
When play resumed on a slick Francis Field, Fowler-Finn nearly added another goal, but her shot ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared by the St. Thomas defense. Junior Breta Kennedy pushed the Bears’ lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 68th minute, but St. Thomas’ Sarah Balgord quickly responded, scoring a minute later off a rebound scramble in the box.
It was all Wash. U. from there. Senior co-captain Talia Bucci beat St. Thomas goalkeeper Kaisa Erickson to the upper corner on a free kick from the 20-yard line for her first goal of the season and freshman Caryn Rosoff netted two goals of her own to put the Bears up, 5-1.
Wash. U. outshot St. Thomas 13-0 in the first half but couldn’t put the ball in the net.
“It wasn’t that we were playing poorly in the first half, but it took us a while to adjust to their defensive style and the wet turf,” said Talia Bucci, who tallied the 10th goal of her career. “There was also added urgency [after the rain delay] since the game could be called after we played 25 minutes in the second half.”
St. Thomas stuffed the box with defenders throughout the first period, but the Bears adjusted in the second half by stretching the Tommie defense.
“We moved off the ball better, kept our spacing in the midfield and started playing the ball to feet rather than trying to serve it into the box every time,” added Bucci.
For the game, the Bears outshot their opponents 29-4. Carrie Sear picked up another win in goal, although she did not record a save. Back-up goalkeeper Amanda Boe played most of the second half, making one save and allowing the Tommies’ lone goal.
Bears shut out Westminster in Saturday’s match
The Bears women’s soccer team picked up its second win of the weekend, Saturday, dropping an iron curtain on Westminster College, 4-0.
The lady Bears scored three times in the first thirteen minutes of the game and added another goal later in the first half. Going into the game, the Bears had only recorded three first-half goals all season.
Junior Kim O’Keefe got the scoring started early for Wash. U. on an assist from freshman defender Libby Held in the third minute. The assist marked the first of Held’s career.
Bucci and junior Abbey Hartmann connected for Hartmann’s first goal of the year, putting the Bears ahead 2-0.
Freshman Caryn Rosoff beat Westminster goalkeeper Katie Lyell in the 13th minute, tying her for the team lead for goals at four. But not to be outdone, sophomore Lauren Mehner rounded out the Bears’ scoring in the 34th minute with her fourth goal of the year. MeghanMarie Fowler-Finn also has four goals this season.
“Our team is doing a great job of finding the net right now,” said Mehner. “Hopefully we can continue that as we start conference [play].”
Goalies Carrie Sear and Amanda Boe combined for the shutout victory.
With the win, the Bears move to 6-2 on the season and 4-2 on the road. They travel to Elsah, Ill., to take on Principia College Tuesday night. Conference opponent Emory comes to town next Saturday. Game time is set for 11:30 a.m.