Gopher Women's Soccer Shuts Out Wesley in Season Opener

Sept. 1 – DOVER, Del. – The Goucher College women's soccer program opened the season on a high note, defeating Wesley College, 2-0, on Thursday evening.

The Gophers used solid production from their upperclassmen as a pair of sophomore and a pair or seniors combined for the goals on the day.  

Outshooting Wesley 9-2 in the opening 45-minutes, the Gophers' first goal of the season, was netted 32:57 into the first half on a goal by Theresa Antkowiak-Tassone. Sophomore Camryn Mackey found Antkowiak-Tassone with a cross over a crowded box, and the sophomore volleyed in into the net on the near post to give the Gophers the 1-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same for Goucher, as head coach Tati Korba's squad kept the pressure on the Wolverine defense throughout the closing 45 minutes. In the 60^th minute, a pair of seniors got in on the action for the game's final tally.

Sam Turner notched her first goal of the season, and career goal number seven, as fellow senior Stephanie Budrock found her through a pair of defenders. Turner then beat the keeper low to give Goucher the 2-0 advantage.

From there, the game belonged to the Gophers as Goucher allowed the Wolverines just one more shot over the final 30 minutes of the match.

Overall, Goucher controlled the stat sheet, outshooting the Wolverines by a total of 26-5, which included 17 shots in the second half, alone.

Turner was in the mix of the offense throughout the game, totaling a career-high nine shots. Her previous high of eight was set in a 1-1 tie against Neumann on October 27 of last season.

Antkowiak-Tassone played an efficient game, garnering her first goal of the season, while placing two of her three shots on net.

Mackey and Budrock each finished the game with an assist, while Mackey tallied four shots (two on goal), and Budrock, a pair. Isabel Suazo added five total shots, while Christina Yarrish, Lexi Solazzo and Sara Naughton finished with one, each.

Senior Lexi Rudolph picked up her eighth-career shutout and 13^th-career victory as she played all 90 minutes in goal.

The victory for the Gophers marks the first time since the 2012 season that Goucher has tallied a win on opening day. That game, a 2-0 victory over Lancaster Bible College, sparked a 12-4-2 campaign.

The Gophers will be back in action on Sunday, September 4, as they travel to Bryn Mawr, Pa. to compete against Bryn Mawr College. The matchup with the owls is scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff.