The scene at Bernlohr Stadium last Sunday was one which has come to define much of the women’s soccer season: winning.
After starting off with a dismal (1-5) record, the team has rallied and with a record of 11-2-2 in the last 15 games to wrap up the regular season with a 12-7-2 record and the Ohio Athletic Conference championship.
“Each one of the girls were bringing a different dynamic to the team,” said first-year Head Coach Chris Kouns whose presence atop the squad was the result of a coaching carousel that made him the third head coach in the last four years. “This was manifested in our first six games as we were working to settle into each of our roles and strive for the same goals. I’m proud to say we’ve since come together to build something special.”
The team chemistry was evident Sunday as the Crusaders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over John Carroll in the OAC Championship.
Sophomore Lauren Roy put Capital on the board in the ninth minute, taking a deflec- tion off a corner kick from senior Kaylee Phillips inches in front of the goal and putting it past the keeper.
Four minutes later, senior Tara Zimmer found fellow senior Natalie Fiorelli from the left side wide open in the middle of the box. Fiorelli turned past a defender and finished to the right side for her eighth goal of the year.
John Carroll would score before the break, but wouldn’t slow Capital’s momentum as the Crusaders tallied two more goals after the half, sealing the victory.
Freshman Delaney Thompson tallied a goal in the 54th minute to put the Crusaders up 3-1. The team padded their lead when sophomore Hilary Ells posted her team-leading 10th goal of the year in the 58th.
The Blue Streaks responded with one more goal, but Capital withstood the JCU attack and went on to win 4-2, making the team undefeated when playing at Bernlohr and giving the team’s seniors their first OAC tournament victory.
“We respond to the controlled environment,” Kaylee Phillips said of the team’s perfect record at home, “On the road there are always distractions, but at home we are able to establish a routine and stay focused on what we need to do.”
The win Sunday earned Capital the OAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament. It was the team’s first OAC tournament victory since earning the automatic berth in 2007.
The team will travel to Wheaton, Illinois just outside of Chicago to face Alma (Mich.) College for their opening round match. With a victory, the Crusaders would play again on Saturday before returning to Columbus.
