Women’s Soccer: Hawks post 4-1 win over 20th-ranked Lynn
Sunday, September 2, 2012
A balanced scoring attack led the Rockhurst Hawks to a 4-1 win over 20th-ranked Lynn (Fla.) in their season opener Sunday in St. Louis. Nine players either scored or assisted on Rockhurst’s four goals.
The Hawks, ranked fourth in the GLVC coaches’ preseason poll, outshot the Knights 17-8 while posting 10 shots on goal. Rockhurst will next face Saint Joseph’s on the road in its conference opener on Friday.
Rockhurst jumped out to a 2-1 halftime lead behind goals from freshman midfielder Jessica Cook and sophomore forward Caroline Brandt. Freshman forward Brandi Van Booven and sophomore forward Taylor Skala added second-half goals for the Hawks.
Skala and sophomore midfielder Ally Rodriguez paced Rockhurst with three shots apiece. Van Booven and freshman forward Kinsley Fitzpatrick each added two shots. Senior goalkeeper Lucy Sullivan made three saves.
Sullivan was one of the top keepers in the GLVC last year. She only let 13 shots get past her in 19 games as the Hawks finished with a 12-5-2 record in 2011. She earned All-Conference honors along with Skala and junior midfielder Katie Kujawa.
Skala finished with 13 goals and 30 points to earn GLVC Freshman of the Year honors. Kujawa was second on the team with six goals and 16 points. Skala will be assisted up front with the play of Brandt, Van Booven and Fitzpatrick.
The midfield with be another area for strength for the Hawks. Senior Haley Long is a three-year regular. Sophomores Nicky Alfonsin and Ally Rodriguez combined for 18 points last year. Senior Colleen Shannon and junior Morgan Dahm will see action along with freshmen Julia Bartolacci, Jessica Cook and Emily Rodriguez.
Rockhurst will be strong on defense with returning starters Kasey Lierz, Nicole Vermes and Paige Seilfleisch. Junior Abbey Gebhardt and freshman redshirt Jessica Bayens add depth the backline.
The Hawks play their first three games of the season on the road before hosting Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday, Sept. 14 in their first of seven home games in 2012.
