Seven Goals Drive Mighty Oaks Women's Soccer Past Berea College

By Press release submission

Sep 11, 2022

The Mighty Oaks were victorious on Saturday over the Berea College Mountaineers. After the defeat last week, the Mighty Oaks were roaring to put seven past the Berea goalkeeper resulting in a final score of 7-1.

The first goal came within the first four minutes which was scored by Madison Ward. The goal came from a corner that was rebounded back out wide to Claudia Melgar who sent in a high cross to the back post where Ward was free for an open header.

After pressing high, the Mighty Oaks won a throw in on the right hand side that was taken by Maddie Myers. Myers threw the ball in to Kennedy Hospelhorn who dummied the ball which allowed Melgar to lob the keeper as a defender rushed her.

After playing out from the back, Nara Santos, on her debut after clearing eligibility, played the ball from the left hand side through to Rhiannon O'Looney on the right to play a one-two with Myers. O'Looney then received the ball back in the box to beat three defenders and play a square ball across the box to Rachael Poneskis who took a touch and placed the ball in the bottom left corner.

In the dying seconds of the first half, Berea won a freekick in their half and sent it long where a defensive error led to their striker receiving the ball and putting it in the back of the net, making the score 3-1 at halftime.

The Mighty Oaks started the second half strong, scoring three minutes after halftime. Winning the ball back from Berea's goal kick, Alana Doherty, Lauren Zirkelbach, and Claudia Melgar did some combination play which led to Melgar eventually playing a through ball to Doherty down the left side of the box where she took a touch and shot the ball past the keeper into the roof of the net.

After winning another throw in on the right hand side, Madison Nicolas quickly threw the ball to Lauren Zirkelbach down the right wing where she took a touch before shooting which forced the keeper into a save that rebounded to Melgar who then had a tap in.

Following the goalkeepers punt, Melgar possessed the ball on the wing and took her space in the middle, then split two opposing players to find Zirkelbach's feet. She then beat her defender with her pace and slotted the ball into the net across the keeper.

For the seventh and final goal, O'Looney received the ball on the left wing on the half way line and took a touch inward to beat her defender. After creating this opening, she ran half the pitch and struck the ball just inside the box, left of the goalie. The keeper got finger tips to it but she was no match for the power.

The Mighty Oaks dominated throughout and finished the game with 13 shots (10 on goal) compared to Berea's seven shots (six on goal). Kassidy Elkin in goal finished with 4 saves and Annabelle Lansdale finished with 1 save.

The Mighty Oaks will look to continue the momentum and come back with another win as they are on the road again to St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday, September 7 to face the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis at 6:00 pm.