SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- October 08 -- Westminster women's soccer enjoyed a 2-0 victory over RMAC opponent Colorado Christian University (4-7-1, 1-5-1 RMAC). The Griffins scored a goal in each half and earned their third shutout of the season. The Griffin's record improves to 4-7-0 overall and 2-5-0 in conference play.
Victory on a cold October morning was well deserved by the Griffins on Sunday. CCU came out quick and had three shots within the first ten minutes, requiring two saves from senior goalkeeper
Breanna Empey. The Griffins responded with shots of their own over the next five minutes and began to take control the game. The Griffins out shot the Cougars 9 to 4 in the half. It was all Westminster in the final five minutes of the half as they shot four times and were fouled twice by CCU. In the 45th minute, CCU defender, Karli Wilson, was called for a handball while blocking a shot by sophomore
Libby Dearden. Libby calmly stepped up and scored in the low left corner to send the Griffins up 1-0 at halftime.
The Griffins continued to dominate and control the game in the second half. The Griffins out shot the Cougars 14 to 9 forcing Cougar goalkeeper, freshman Ireland VanDyke into four saves before conceding her second goal of the match. The Griffins would get a security goal in the 82nd minute of the match when VanDyke saved a shot, from sophomore
Gabriella Sorensen, into the path of freshman
Ellie Echeverio for a volley into an open goal and her third goal of the season. The game would finish 2-0.
In response to the game, head coach
Tony LeBlanc said, "We were able to make some tactical changes and players embraced it and proved how strong our young team can be. I am very proud of the effort of each player and know we have a new standard to play at."
The Griffins dominated the match, tallying 23 shots to the Cougar's 9 shots.
Libby Dearden played 90 minutes leading the attack, taking five shots and scoring her first goal of the season, along with
Gabriella Sorensen who took five shots and played 56 minutes. Goalkeeper
Breanna Empey and the defense earned the team's third shutout of the season.
Women's soccer continues conference play as they go on a road trip next week to Alamosa, CO, on Friday against Adams State Grizzlies, and to Durango, CO, on Sunday against Fort Lewis Skyhawks. Both games can be followed via
Live Stats or watched on the live video feed broadcast by the
RMAC Network.