Women’s Soccer Dismantles MSOE

Ted Johnson

On a cool, drizzly Saturday afternoon, the Lawrence women’s soccer team methodically dismantled the Raiders from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Playing on their home field, with more energy than the visitors and with about five times the number of substitutes, the LU women appeared to have a number of advantages. However, they were seriously disadvantaged in one respect: Their starting sweeper hurt her ankle in practice on Friday. The Vikings responded by filling the gap with junior Amanda Follett, who anchored a commanding defense.
Before any mention should be made of goal scoring or offensive possession, the Viking defense should be credited–not only with a shut-out, but for limiting MSOE to seven shots including only four shots on goal. The Vikings’ speed and aggressiveness in the back set the tone early in the game; in the first half MSOE could only muster two shots.
Within the first 20 minutes of the game, the visitors managed to twice slide the ball behind the Viking backs, but junior keeper Candace Gangl smothered the ball both times before an MSOE forward could reach it.
Offensively, the Vikings opted not to play midfield keep-away but instead lobbed the ball from the defense to Jackie Bean and Crystal Castillo, who could be found flying down the wings.
Bean fired the first serious shot of the game after breaking away on the right side, and barely missed the top far post corner. Sophomore Bean would continue to pressure the MSOE defense from her right midfield post and by the 30th minute or so LU had won a couple of corner kicks on which they failed to capitalize.
By the 32nd minute, it was time for the Lawrence women to make a statement. From a ball played across the left half of the field from Julianne Eggum, Ashlee Moore launched a curving first-time shot into the net from beyond the 18-yard box.
In the second half, the Vikings wasted no time solidifying the win, and in the 47th minute Beth Shaker found the net after being closely guarded by the opposing defenders in the first half. Bean and Moore were in on the assist. Only a few moments later, Bean herself scored off Gangl’s punt from her goal.
After Bean’s goal, the Vikings continued to substitute freely and nearly the entire bench saw time on the field. In the end, Lawrence posted 14 shots and Gangl recorded a clean sheet, as well as her first career assist. What the stat sheet does not show, though, is the stellar play of the defense, including a standout effort in the midfield from Eggum.
Wednesday’s game against Edgewood was postponed. No make-up date has been announced.