*Story by Alex Trevino
WILMINGTON, Oh - Maddie Scott pounced on a loose ball in 86th minute in the box to score the game's only goal in a Wilmington College women's soccer 1-0 triumph over Heidelberg University in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) opener for both teams on Saturday evening. The victory snapped the Student Princes' seven-game winning streak.
In the opening game of the conference schedule, Wilmington faced quite a challenge, a streaking Heidelberg side who had won its last seven games. The first half was truly a back-and-forth affair as Wilmington and Heidelberg traded shots early. A shot by Elizabeth Matthews in the second minute forced the Student Prince's goalkeeper, Meredith Bruce, into action. Likewise, a dangerous shot in the first 10 minutes of the game spurred Wilmington's senior goalkeeper, Lauren Galloway, into action. The two sides held even in the first half as the Fightin' Quakers faced four shots on goal to the Student Princes' three.
The second half started with a barrage of shots by the Quakers. Payton Watson and Maddie Scott each had a shot on goal in the first five minutes in the second half. Heidi Edens was able to get two shots on frame in the next five minutes, but the Student Prince defense held strong. With neither side able to break through and the second half coming to a close it seemed that overtime was inevitable. With five minutes left in the second half, a seemingly innocuous sequence began. A loose ball near midfield bounced to the feet of Elizabeth Matthews who calmly collected the ball and skied a pass over the Student Prince back line. The Quaker's leading goal scorer, Maddie Scott, found herself suddenly behind the Heidelberg defense with just the goalie to beat. Maddie Scott tapped the ball out of the air and over the outstretched hands of Meredith Bruce. Wilmington would go on to win the game 1-0.
Goalkeeper Lauren Galloway collected her fifth clean sheet of the season and her first in conference play. Maddie Scott scored her third goal on the season and Elizabeth Matthews registered her second assist. Audrey Kaufman led Heidelberg with five shots, four of which were on goal.
Up next, Wilmington looks to continue its three-game winning streak Wednesday versus Muskingum University in Williams Stadium at 7 p.m.
