RESULTS AND STATISTICS WILL BE POSTED AT A LATER DATE
MOREHEAD, Ky. | All but one of Morehead State's goals were scored by newcomers and two first-year team members shared in a shutout as the Eagle women's soccer team decisively won its road game at Chicago State on Wednesday at the Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep Field south of Chicago.
In a contest that was divided into three, 30-minute periods, plus a five-person shootout, the Eagles tallied goals in each period and also outscored the Cougars in the penalty kick session.
Coupled with a team excursion into the Windy City for a day and head coach
Paul Cox thought the outing was hugely successful.
"I wanted this preseason trip to be a real bonding exercise, where we could spend quality time together as well as putting in a performance and coming away healthy from the game," he said. "We've managed to achieve all of those as we move onto the weekend (for the second scrimmage)."
It was the team's first exhibition road victory in eight years, when the club defeated home standing Marshall 5-0 in Huntington, W.Va., in 2018.
Every healthy team member played, but the nine first-year team members really stood out by contributing significantly to the result on both ends of the field.
"They did really well," Cox said. "Two freshman came off the bench and made an immediate impact. (Transfer) Ashton (Lynam) did well as well bagging a brace."
Freshman midfielder
Kendall Anderson led the way with a hat trick.
"I thought we did a great job on recycling the ball back instead of forcing it, which tires the other team out and creates more space," she said. "I also thought the through balls down the line were great for creating crosses into the box. A lot of our chances came from those crosses but also just relentlessly putting pressure on the other team when they had the ball. (I'm) super happy about the team as a whole today."
In total, nine different Eagles contributed a point, but three newcomers were responsible for most of the goals. Redshirt sophomore transfer
Allie Lammers, freshman
Amira Hendrick and redshirt freshman
Hannah Sullivan shared the goalkeeping duties and kept a clean sheet.
"For the newcomers, I was so happy to see everyone contributing. Everyone was working hard for the benefit of the team and not playing selfishly," Anderson added. "I was really impressed with the other freshmen as well. (I) loved the confidence. Shout out to Gaia (Fubelli) for scoring the first goal of the game as a freshman!"
MSU won its opening exhibition last year 2-0 at home over Brescia (Ky.) and 3-0 two years ago at home against Pikeville (Ky.) but in both cases dropped the second scrimmage on the road. The Eagles have not had an undefeated preseason since tying Wright State 0-0 on the road in the lone match of 2021. Morehead State has not finished 2-0 in the exhibition campaign since prior to 2018, the last year records exist with preseason results.
The Blue and Gold will get a chance to end that streak on Sunday, when the team heads to Ohio for a 4 p.m. contest with the Bobcats. It is the first year on record that all MSU preseason games will be played away from home.
Morehead State will begin the regular season on Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest at Marshall. The Eagles will have their home opener on Sunday, Aug. 16 against Brescia at 1 p.m.
Â
