By Jenny Mosley
An early goal by freshman Schyler Akerman pushed the KU women’s soccer over the nationally ranked Edinboro team at Keystone Field on Saturday, September 17.
Thirty seconds into the game, senior Alaina Curry collected a through ball into the Edinboro corner before sending it across into the box, and, after a deflection by the Edinboro keeper, the ball found the foot of Akerman where she slipped home the first goal of the game.
KU held onto that one goal lead late into the game before Madison McLelland put home her team-leading third goal of the season in the 77th minute.
Finding the ball at her feet after fellow freshman Ashley Engler blocked an attempted clearance from the Edinboro goalie right outside of the 18-yard box, McLelland took one touch and fired home the second goal of the game.
The two goals came from KU’s 21 attempted shots on the afternoon as the Golden Bears dominated the category 21-10, with 11 of those Golden Bear shots finding the front of the net.
The defensive effort by the Golden Bears was key in Saturday’s victory. An experienced back line of Cassie Schmidt, Morgan Stanley, Katie Miller and Olivia Novak played all 90 minutes and kept the Fighting Scots’ on-goal shots at a mere four attempts. Three of those four shots came in the first half, where KU goalkeeper Imani Taylor was up for the task.
KU women’s soccer will face conference foes Indiana and Cal Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday Oct. 1.