Box Score MADISON, Wis. – An explosive start gave way to a defensive struggle as the Edgewood College women's soccer team attempted to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 straight matches. Ultimately, the game would be decided by a successful
Jenna Mineau penalty kick early in the second half, which gave the Eagles a 2-1 victory over Lawrence University. The Eagles' 10-match unbeaten streak (9-0-1) is their longest since 2005.
Fans at Breese Stevens Field had barely stopped humming the final bars of the Star Spangled Banner when Edgewood College (9-2-1) first struck. Moe Baemmert won a challenge in the left corner and brought the ball up the end line on the dribble. Baemmert centered to Emily Dorsett, who touched it over to Jennifer Dailey. Dailey outstretched the last Viking defender to punch the ball past Lawrence goalkeeper Dani Glass for a 1-0 Eagles lead, less than three minutes into the match.
However, Lawrence University (3-6) equalized nearly as quickly. Just 80 seconds later, the Vikings' Casey Merkle took a centering pass from Anita Babbitt and scored into the lower left corner of the net to tie the match at one apiece. The Eagles outshot Lawrence 6-3 in the first half, but failed to gain the lead.
Edgewood College asserted itself more in the second half, and it eventually paid off. In the 58th minute, a Lawrence defender failed to trap the ball cleanly, and had it glance off her arm inside the penalty area. Jenna Mineau stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty kick to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage. Her fourth successful penalty kick of the season tied the school record held by current assistant coach Elaine Gerry, set in 2010.
Edgewood College limited the Vikings to just one shot in the second half, helping goalkeeper Tori Fortney earn her ninth win of the year, by making just two saves. Glass made five saves in goal for the Vikings.
Meanwhile, in the NACC race, the Eagles are deadlocked with Concordia University Wisconsin with perfect 5-0 conference records. Edgewood College will try to remain on top in their next match, a Saturday road date with Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.
