MADISON, Wis. – Lately, the Edgewood College women's soccer team has been collecting goals like a kid collects candy at Halloween. So it may have been appropriate that Eagles junior Emily Skaer collected the most on Wednesday night. Skaer scored a career-high four goals in the Eagles' 6-0 rout of visiting Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Edgewood College (8-7, 5-4 NACC) followed the same pattern they did in the Eagles win over Lakeland College last Saturday, scoring early and often. Jennifer Dailey cracked open the scoreboard in the fourth minute. Skaer's cross landed on the foot of Dailey, and her volley caught Wisconsin Lutheran goalkeeper Rachel Sebald breaking the other direction.
The next four tallies all belonged to Skaer, including two within the next 12 minutes of play. Shortly after the Eagles had a goal disallowed due to an offside, Alisha Nolden found Skaer with a cross. Skaer's shot hit the underside of the crossbar, landed in the cage and then spun back out. After a moment's hesitation, the assistant referee signaled the ball had crossed the line for a 2-0 Eagles lead in the 14th minute. Three minutes later Nolden again crossed to Skaer in the center of the penalty area. Skaer held off a Warrior defender, turned to her right shoulder and fired a left footed shot to beat Sebald and give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
In the second half, Skaer scored on an impressive solo effort. She broke through down the left flank and dribble around three Warrior defenders, putting her in alone on the WLC keeper. She completed her first career hat trick with a blast to the upper corner. Skaer added another goal in the 69th minute, again on an assist from Nolden. Nolden's three assists was also a career high. The Eagles closed the scoring in the 75th minute when Carley Hanko slotted a beautiful pass through two defenders and Hannah Menzia finished the play with her second goal of the season.
Sabelle Seabrook needed to make just one save in goal for Edgewood College as the Eagles outshot the Warriors 29-4. Megan Bower played the second half in goal for the Eagles. Sebald made 10 saves for WLC.
The win keeps the Eagles in a three-way tie with Aurora and Benedictine for fourth place in the NACC. The Eagles have one conference match remaining, a Senior Day tilt with Dominican University on Saturday at Breese Stevens Field. A win would clinch a spot in the NACC Tournament. Any other result will keep the Eagles on edge while the wait for the rest of the conference season to play out.
Also, next week's regular season finale against UW-Platteville has been rescheduled. The Eagles and Pioneers will now play on Monday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday.
