Fayette, Mo. – The Central Methodist University women's soccer team shutout the Evangel University Crusaders on Wednesday evening, by a final of 3-0 at Davis Field.
With the victory, the Eagles improve to 12-2-2 overall and 6-2-2 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. With the loss, Evangel falls to 5-10 overall and 1-8 in The Heart.
The Eagles got off to a slow start on Wednesday evening. Both teams played similar styles, with both squads not moving fast, but trying to get set in the offense.
Central Methodist was able to break through midway into the first half, when Rebecca Steele-Mackey (JR/Wasilla, Alaska) found Luci Sauerbronn (FR/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) for the game's first goal. Central would take their 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Eagles got off to another slow start, but once again struck at the midway point. Kylie Thwing (FR/Troy, Mo.) scored the game's second goal in the 66th minute, to give CMU a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles would strike once more for good measure in the 78th minute, when freshman Judith Sainz (FR/Pamplona, Spain) added her 15th goal of the season; now tied for the team lead with Nicki Noreen (SR/Bartlett, Ill.).
Freshman goalkeeper Ashlynn Freeman (FR/Moberly, Mo.) recorded her 10th shutout of the season. Freeman has smashed the CMU record, which had previously been five shutouts by one keeper in a season.
Central will now have a week to prepare to face 16th ranked Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. It will be a rematch of last season's Heart Semifinal Match, and it will have major postseason implications on the line, with postseason tournament seeding.
For more information about Central Methodist University athletics, visit http://www.cmueagles.com. Follow CMU athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cmathletics and on Twitter twitter.com/cmueagles.
