ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson women's soccer team wrapped up its season-opening three-match homestand with by outpacing visiting King College, 3-1, in non-conference play Wednesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
Anderson improved to 3-0 on the season, equaling the best start by a Trojan squad since 2002 when AU also opened with three straight wins. King dropped to 0-3 with the setback.
The combination of a potent offense and stingy defense boosted Anderson's home win streak to eight matches, with three different players lighting up the scoreboard.
"That's the best and most complete game we've played all year," said Anderson head coach Jason Dowiak. "The players are really committing to the system and its exciting to see the things we work on in practice showing up in the games."
Freshman Danielle Boltin continued her hot streak, with her fourth goal in two games giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute of action. The 5-1 forward worked in from the left side and her left-footed boot from 15 yards out settled in the net for the early advantage.
AU gained some breathing room at the 17:51 mark when sophomore Carrie Settle found another freshman, Krystal Goss, with a cross from deep on the right side and the 5-5 forward knocked it home for her third score - and first game-winner - of the season.
The swarming AU defense held the Tornado without a shot for nearly 32 minutes, but King made the lone attempt count, as the Trojan defense made a rare mental miscue by trying to clear the ball from the box by going to the middle. Freshman Morgan Shelton corralled the ball and found the back of the net with her shot with 14:25 on the clock
The Tornado had an opportunity to knot the score with 4:11 left in the opening half, but junior Heidi Steger misfired to the right side on a penalty shot following as foul on AU.
Both teams threatened in the second half, but it was Anderson that capitalized when Alexandra Induni got the ball to Settle and the forward connected on her second scoring play of the afternoon by going left and outracing the defense for her third score of the season.
"Several people played well," added Dowiak. "Kaitlin (Neipp) was
awesome and it's great to see two freshmen score (Boltin and Goss)
along with Carrie (Settle)."
Danielle Boltin, Carrie Settle and Adrienne Lough each posted three
shots apiece for the Trojans, who outshot the Tornado 18-7 and held
a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Freshman keeper Kaitlin Neipp, who recorded her second win of
the year in goal for AU, collected two saves and was charged with
surrendering the lone Tornado goal.
With her team-high fourth goal of the season, Boltin leads the
Trojans with eight points, while Settle has notched three goals and
an assist for seven points.
The Trojans get back in action this weekend, when AU travels to
Milledgeville, Ga., for the Bobcat Shootout. Kick-off versus the
host Georgia College and State Bobcats is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Anderson will face Harding on Sunday, with kick-off at 1:30 p.m. on
Bobcat Field.
