It took a while to find a rhythm, but once senior Sammy Koerner found the net for the first time this season – the Wilmington women's soccer team cruised to a 4-0 non-conference victory over Mount St. Joseph Wednesday at Charlie Gilhart Field.
The Fightin' Quakers dominated play, outshooting Mount St. Joseph, 22-4, including a 12-3 edge in shots on goal.
Wilmington really started to turn up the pressure midway through the first half, and Koerner (Fairfield, OH/Badin) finally deposited a rebound into the back of the net.
"Sammy Koerner had an outstanding game," said head coach Steve Spirk. "I thought she controlled the midfield. She was definitely the difference for us. This is what you want your seniors to do. We struggled to settle down and to pass the ball to feet. We didn't move off the ball like we needed to."
Sophomore Rachelle Bowen (Xenia, OH/Xenia) added her first goal of the season, beating the goalkeeper in the 36th minute.
Not settling for just a two-goal lead, Wilmington kicked its offense into overdrive early in the second half. Once again, it was Koerner that started the scoring. She headed home a corner kick from Brooke Lamb in the 54th minute, and less than two minutes later, Lauren Hamrock (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek) found the back of the net.
"What I am pleased most about is that we took the game to them," said Spirk. "We didn't just sit on a 2-0 lead."
Junior Taylor Franklin (Delaware, OH/Rutherford B. Hayes) recorded the shutout in her first start of the season, making three saves.
Wilmington (3-1-1) returns to the pitch 2 p.m. Saturday traveling to the College of Wooste
