Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Ohio University
Women's Soccer Outscores Ohio, 4-3
8/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 30, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
MILWAUKEE - Kate Gordon started off her senior season in fine fashion, scoring two goals and an assist in the first game of the season in Marquette's 4-3 win over Ohio.
After a scoreless first half in which Marquette (1-0) had a couple of scoring chances, Ohio took the lead in the 46th minute. Rachel Najjar took a turnover deep in the Marquette end and turned on a 20 yard looping ball over MU keeper Ashleigh Koenig (Naperville, Ill).
"We were very excited to play at home in front of this nice crowd (687 attendance)," head coach Markus Roeders said. "We hadn't played a scrimmage, so once we settled down, we established a flow."
Marquette quickly regained the lead. Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) was responsible in part for Marquette's next three goals. She scored on a turnover and went one-on-one with the Ohio goalkeeper in the 52nd minute to tie the score. She received help from juniors Laura Culhane (Brookfield, Wis.) and Anne Ioder (Franklin, Wis.) on her second goal just three and a half minutes later. Gordon made a diving leap to head a ball into the net from eight yards out after the entry pass from Culhane
"Kate scored a great first and second goal," Roeders said. "It was great to see her get hot early in the season.
MU upped its grew its lead on a goal by junior Carolyn Klopp (Glendale, Wis.). After confusion on a potential handball by Ohio keeper Michelle Meglaughlin, Gordon sent the ball out wide to Klopp who looped the ball into the wide open net from 35 yards.
The Golden Eagles upped their lead to 4-1 in the 71st minute when senior Kristin Halley (Overland Park, Kan.) finished a quick transition goal on assists from freshman Julie Thompson (Naperville, Ill.) and senior Anna Frisk (Rochester, N.Y.).
Ohio retaliated to close the gap to two 55 seconds later. Rachel Sanders took cross from Natalie Grein that Kelly Prandi settled and blasted it home from 18 yards. The Bobcats cut MU's lead to one with 3:04 left when Abby Leopold assisted Christel Schiering.
"We've got to keep improving," Roeders added. "We need to be more tight in the back, especially when we score four. Overall, are we happy? Yes. We try to win as many games as possible, but could we be better in other areas? Yes."
MU held onto its lead for the season opening win. The Golden Eagles return to action on Sunday, Sept. 1 in the final day of the Verizon Wireless Milwaukee Cup. Marquette takes on Oakland - a winner over Wis.-Milwaukee 2-1 - at noon at Engelmann Field.
