LA GRANDE, Ore. – In a span of three years in the early 2000s, there was a time when the Eastern Oregon University women's soccer team mustered just five wins. Fast-forward to mid-September in 2015, and the Mountaineers are off to their best start in program history with a 6-0 record.
On Friday afternoon, the Navy and Gold collected its fifth shutout of the season with a 5-0 triumph over Evergreen in the team's Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) opener.
"I'm happy that we came out and got our first win of conference play," said head women's soccer coach Justin Wagar. "We had a good showing in the first half offensively, and we're pleased to get our fifth shutout of the season."
Key Performances
Sophomore forward Maddi Cillay came off the bench to score two goals and fire eight shots to lead the Mountaineers, while EOU's defense held Evergreen to only one shot on goal.
The Storyline
EOU tallied four goals in the first half to put Evergreen (0-4, 0-1 CCC) on its heels, including two goals in a span of two minutes mid-way through the opening stanza.
The Mountaineers dominated in the shot department, firing 35 compared to just three by the Geoducks.
After coming up empty on seven attempts in the early going, the Navy and Gold broke the scoreless drought in the 20th minute after freshman midfielder Megan Dimmler sent one in the back of the net past the outstretched arms of Evergreen junior goalkeeper Kayla Baskett.
A mere 92 seconds later, Cillay received a beautiful pass from senior forward Crystal Schuder and scored to put EOU on top, 2-0.
EOU added to the damage in the 38th and 44th minute thanks to goals by senior defender Allison Jordan and Cillay for the second time to take a commanding 4-0 advantage into halftime.
Although both teams were fairly quite in the second half, EOU remained on the attack, at one point launching five shots in a span of four minutes. In the 62nd minute, senior midfielder Haley hill sprinted down the field and tapped home a cross into the box for one of the more impressive goals of the day, and the Navy and Gold rode its five-goal lead to victory.
Stat of the Game
0 – Shots allowed by EOU in the final 32 minutes of the game.
Up Next
EOU (6-0, 1-0 CCC) returns to the pitch tomorrow against No. 20 Northwest in La Grande at 2 p.m.
