NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Trine University women's soccer team scored four unanswered goals to close out a 4-1 victory against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College.
Neither team scored in the first half of the game, but the Thunder recorded a lead in shots, 7-4, and shots on goal, 4-2.
Despite those offensive numbers it was the Belles that struck first in the contest. The home side scored just under six minutes after the intermission to take the 1-0 lead, aided by an offside turnover by the Thunder.
Trine wasted little time in responding, moving the ball into the offensive end of the field and drawing a penalty near the far sideline. They played the free kick into the penalty area where it bounced off of a defender toward the net. Paige Steffke charged in to score the goal.
The Thunder scored again, taking their first lead of the day, a few minutes later. Another penalty along the far sideline gave the team another set piece opportunity. This time Julia Benham placed the ball in the far side of box at the feet of Elly McClelland who turned and scored the goal.
Ten minutes later Trine earned a corner after a shot by Ava Leihgeber was tipped high by the Saint Mary's keeper. The corner attempt went long but the team retained possession before crossing it back into the penalty area. Leihgeber ended up with the ball and fired either a shot or pass toward the net, deflecting it off the foot of a defender and into the far side of the net.
Trine attempted to turn a free kick at midfield into a scoring chance in the 68th minute of play. The ball landed in the penalty area with Leihgeber in position to play the ball, but drawing the foul from the charging keeper instead. Benham put the penalty kick home for the final 4-1 lead.
The Thunder improve to 6-4-3 overall and 3-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play following the victory. They will travel to face Calvin University for their next match. That contest is set to start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14. Â
