Soccer Eagles Erupt for Five Goals in First Victory of 2023 Season

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- A trio of first-half goals propelled the Morehead State soccer team to its first win of 2023 Sunday. For good measure the Eagles found the back of the net twice more in the final 45 and knocked off Detroit Mercy 5-2 on the Titans' home turf in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the pitch.

The five goals marked the program's most in a match since Sept. 11, 2015 when the Eagles defeated Francis Marion (S.C.) 5-3. It is the most against a Division I foe since Nov. 6, 2014 when MSU blasted Murray State 5-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Eagles' five assists also marked the highest total since Oct. 13, 2013.

After falling behind 1-0 off what was credited as an own goal (goalkeeper deflection into net), the Eagles erupted for a trio of goals in a 14-minute span in the first half.

Freshman Hedda Ornberg notched her first career goal at the 27:48 mark, following a double assist from fifth-year Nicole Fiantaco and freshman Michelle Hochstadt. Fifth-year midfielder Kate Larbes gave her team the lead at 32:33, her first time finding the back of the net in 2023 and third of her career.

Fiantaco, playing just 20 miles from her hometown of Sterling Heights, Mich., made it 3-1 at 41:46. It marked the forward's seventh career goal and was assisted by sophomore Sejla Podzic (her second career helper).

Taking a 3-2 lead into the break, MSU poured it on late in the final half. 2022 First-Team All-OVCer and sixth-year midfielder Colleen Swift got a back pass off a rebound and rocketed her 11th career goal at 74:56.  Senior Hadley Cytron picked up the assist, her second career one of those.

Larbes then registered her first career multi-goal match, getting a shot past the Titan keeper at 76:31. Fifth-year Natalie Ledin picked up her first career assist as an Eagle.

Shots were nearly even, at a 17-15 slight edge for the Titans, but the Eagles made theirs count more. MSU led 10-9 in shots on goal, with five touching the back of the net for the visiting Eagles. MSU also held possession for 54 percent of the match, compared to just 46 for Detroit.

Despite allowing the two goals, Eagle goalkeeper Erin Gibbs turned back eight shots.

Morehead State stays on the road this week, traveling to face Big 10 opponent Indiana on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.