Mount Union Women’s Soccer Explodes for Seven Goals to Keep OAC Hopes Alive 

ALLIANCE, OH - October 26, 2011 - Six players netted scores as the Mount Union women's soccer team defeated Muskingum, 7-0, Wednesday night at Mount Union Stadium. With the win, the Purple Raiders (8-8-2, 3-5-0) pulled into a four-way tie for the final two spots in next week's Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

Playing in her final home match, senior Alyssa Flitcraft provided an immediate spark off the bench. The teams had combined for just two shots when the speedy Flitcraft entered in the 24th minute. Flitcraft was able to get off two shots within the next three minutes. Finally, in the 30th minute, she found junior Kylee Kolesar in the box. Kolesar possessed the ball and buried the shot into the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season. Less than a minute later, Ashley Kuhn was able to convert a corner by Ashley Sams into the Raiders' second goal of the night. Jen Sprandel scored off another corner by Sams a few minutes later for a 3-0 lead heading to halftime.

Flitcraft got back into the action in the second half. The OAC's second-leading goal scorer netted a pair of goals to give her 10 on the season. Seniors Kaleigh Stanley and Christin Handley assisted on the scores. Two freshmen, Gina Wall and Nicole Moldovan, also added second half goals. Wall was able to maneuver her way through the defense for her score in the 64th minute. In the 85th minute, Moldovan scored on a header off a corner by Sprandel. Freshman goalkeeper Maria Favorite started and made one save in 45 scoreless minutes in net. Fellow freshman Jackie Podolsky replaced her at halftime and also made one save in 45 minutes. Starter Sara Poling made nine saves for Muskingum (5-13-0, 1-7-0) while Megan Dever made one save for the Muskies.

Mount Union returns to action on Saturday when they visit Otterbein. A win will likely qualify the Raiders for the OAC Tournament for the first time since 2003.

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MU Women Blitzed by Capital

ALLIANCE, OH - October 22, 2011 - The Mount Union women's soccer team was defeated in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest by the Capital, 4-0.

Capital's Kaylee Phillips and Hilary Ells both scored twice as the Crusaders won their fifth OAC game of the season. Mount Union kept close for most of the game, but the Crusaders pulled away in the game's final 15 minutes. Goalkeeper Maria Favorite finished with seven saves. For Capital, keeper Maggie Donnellan held Mount Union scoreless while making seven saves. With the loss, Mount Union falls to 2-5 in the OAC, and 7-8-2 overall.

The Purple Raiders will continue to try earning a spot in the OAC tournament when they host Muskingum Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

B-W Outduels MU Women

BEREA, OH - October 18, 2011 - The Mount Union women's soccer team was outshot 16-3 and fell to Baldwin-Wallace, 2-0. A win over the Yellow Jackets would have allowed the Purple Raiders (7-7-2, 2-4) to control their own destiny in the hunt for a return to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

A shot off the post by Ashley Sams in the 62nd minute was the first shot of the night for Mount Union. They did not attempt a shot on goal until 1:34 remained in the match. Baldwin-Wallace struck early with a goal from Lindsey Cooper at the 3:03 mark of the first quarter. Noelle Fox added a goal in the 16th minute and that was all Baldwin-Wallace needed.

Jackie Podolsky made two saves in goal for the Purple Raiders. Garielle Brodo turned away the only shot on goal she faced for Baldwin-Wallace (9-7, 2-4). Mount Union will return to action on Saturday as they host Capital as part of a double-header with the men's team. 

Mount Union Women's Soccer: Purple Raiders Come of Age in OAC Win 

ALLIANCE, OH - October 15, 2011 - The Mount Union women's soccer team defended its home turf with an impressive 2-0 win over Heidelberg. The Purple Raiders (7-6-2, 2-3) received contributions from several freshmen and picked up three crucial points in the Ohio Athletic Conference standings.

Freshman Gina Wall gave Mount Union the lead with her third goal of the season in the 18th minute. Wall beat a defender and struck a hard shot off the keeper and into the net. With 7:24 remaining in the second half, the Raiders received an insurance goal from junior Kylee Kolesar.

Freshman Erika Druzina found Kolesar on a long pass down the field for a one-on-one opportunity, which the junior was able to cash in for the goal. Play took place on the Mount Union side of the field most of the game as the Raiders outshot Heidelberg, 17-7. Kelsey Hogan's shot in the 61st minute was the only shot on goal they allowed the entire match. The young Purple Raiders not only controlled the ball, they also controlled their emotions in a physical game. Heidelberg received two yellow cards, including one for running into Mount Union freshman goalkeeper Maria Favorite in the 69th minute. Favorite, who made one save in the game, was forced to leave and was replaced by fellow freshman Jackie Podolsky.

Mount Union will travel to Berea to take on Baldwin-Wallace in an OAC contest Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Mount Union Women's Soccer Falls to Blue Streaks 

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH - October 12, 2011 - The Mount Union women's soccer team was unable to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit, falling by that same score to John Carroll in an Ohio Athletic Conference women's soccer match Wednesday night. The Purple Raiders (6-6-2, 1-3) gave the Blue Streaks, who are just a game out of first place in the OAC, all they could handle on their home turf.

The Blue Streaks received a goal from Kaylin Akerly in the 24th minute to take a 1-0 lead. They were able to prevent the Raiders from getting the ball within striking distance most of the night, outshooting them 40-7. With under 30 seconds remaining, the Purple Raiders had one final scoring opportunity, but a shot by Kylee Kolesar was turned away by goalkeeper Lexi Korczynski.

Mount Union's Maria Favorite recorded 14 saves, which is the most in a single game by a Purple Raider keeper this season. Korczynski made two saves for John Carroll (9-5, 3-1). Mount Union continues the OAC portion of their schedule on Saturday when Heidelberg pays a visit. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by the men's match at 7 p.m. 

Key Conference Win for MU Women

MARIETTA, OH - October 8, 2011 - The Mount Union women's soccer team a won their first Ohio Athletic Conference match of the season with a thrilling 3-2 double-overtime win over Marietta. In their victory, the Purple Raiders (6-5-2, 1-2-0 OAC) received a little bit of help from the host Pioneers.

With 5:43 remaining in the second overtime period, a corner kick by Ashley Sams was deflected into the net by a Marietta player to give Mount Union the win. Marietta took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Holly Simms in the fifth minute. Sams evened the score in the 13th minute when she received a pass in the box from Christin Handley and beat the keeper in the lower right corner of the goal.

Marietta regained the lead just two minutes later after a goal by Stevie Reilly. In the 33rd minute, Alyssa Flitcraft responded with a breakaway goal to pull the Purple Raiders even heading into halftime. After combining to score four times in the first 33 minutes of the match, neither team scored again for the next 72 minutes before the own goal.

Freshman Maria Favorite made five saves for Mount Union. Kelly Sommers made six saves for Marietta (1-10-1, 0-3-0). Mount Union returns to action Wednesday night when they travel to University Heights to take on John Carroll. 

MU Women Fall Hard to Kenyon