Grace Soccer: Lancers Go Nuts In Landslide Win
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The 2016 NCCAA National Championships could not have started better for Grace’s women’s soccer team.
The Lady Lancers blitzed John Wesley 11-0 on Monday to start pool play in the national tournament. The top-seeded Lady Lancers (8-7-5) set a program record for most goals scored in a single game with 11, breaking an 18-year-old record.
Grace also smashed the team record by having 10 different goalscorers in the contest.
The Lady Lancers will complete pool play on Wednesday at 1 p.m. against No. 6 Colorado Christian. A win would assure Grace a spot in the national semifinals.
“This is a good first outing for us. They started and finished sharp, and we saw every player get quality minutes,” said Grace coach Michael Voss. “We are excited and grateful simply to be here at the national tournament.”
Grace dominated from the opening kickoff on Monday. The Lady Lancers averaged nearly a shot per minute over the first 20 minutes.
The first goal of the tournament came from freshman Liz Van Wormer. After Grace earned a corner kick, Van Wormer cleverly bent in the corner direct to the far post.
Minutes later, Grace scored again off a corner. Van Wormer’s corner found her classmate McKenna Cruz, who scored the first goal of her career in the 14th minute.
Maile Grout blasted her first goal of the season in the 19th minute, dribbling from the midfield and unleashing a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
Five minutes later, Joana Schimmel added her name to the scoresheet off an assist from Meredith Hollar.
Flavia Faria scored the second goal of her season in the 26th minute, assisted by Marina Tolczyk, to give Grace a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Lancers were not finished in the half, however. Kaitlyn Hayes gave Grace a 6-0 lead in the 36th minute, and Tolczyk picked up her second assist of the game just before halftime to help Shelby Fort score her first goal in a Lady Lancer uniform.
At halftime, Grace held an insurmountable 7-0 lead. John Wesley was held without a shot and outshot 22-0 overall.
Less than 15 minutes after halftime, Grace had built up a 10-goal cushion. Grout set up Allison Vroon in the 54th minute, and Hayes assisted Hannah Miller at the 59:37 mark.
Miller scored again a minute later, chipping in a high volley over John Wesley’s goalkeeper.
Tolczyk added a goal to her two assists in the 71st minute to complete Grace’s record-breaking day. Fort was credited with the assist on Tolczyk’s first career goal.
For the game, Grace outshot John Wesley 30-0. Abby Schue recorded a 90-minute shutout without needing to make a save in goal for Grace.