WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Three players scored in a 3-0 win for Grace's women's soccer team on Saturday night.
The No. 16 Lancers blanked Carolina University at 1st Source Bank Field, marking Grace's second shutout of the season.
The young Lancer squad — who started eight freshmen — shook off the sting from Thursday's defeat with a dominant performance on Saturday. Grace controlled possession essentially from start to finish.
The Lancers only faced danger one time in the match, which happened to occur in the opening minutes. A defensive lapse led to a one-on-one opportunity in the penalty box. Sofia Williams came up big with a lunging stab to save a close-range shot and keep the game scoreless.
After struggling to score in its first few games, the Lancers put those troubles far behind them with an impressive first half.
Rosalie Gefrorer struck first in the 18th minute. The freshman was fouled during a crafty dribble toward Carolina's goal. She stepped up and curled the free kick beyond the wall and past the diving goalkeeper for her first collegiate goal.
Eleven minutes later, Grace doubled its lead. Rylee Burns used her speed to find space along the right endline. After a few touches into the penalty box, Burns drove a low shot inside the near post, scoring her first collegiate goal from a narrow angle.
Grace's third goal of the half came in the 36th minute. After a corner kick, Gefrorer passed to Amy Wearing who poked in her goal.
The Lancers took a confident 3-0 lead into halftime. Grace outshot Carolina 10-1 in the first 45 minutes to go along with a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
The second half had a similar theme; the Lancers possessed the ball fluidly and consistently, refusing the Bruins any time on the ball.
Grace continued to mount pressure offensively and kept the Bruins pinned back into their own end.
The Lancers would not score again despite taking nine shots with six corner kicks after halftime.
The Bruins were outshot 19-1 and did not record a shot attempt across the final 88 minutes of the match.
Williams recorded the shutout in goal for Grace; she was protected well by the back line of Jasmin Slump, Megan DeBoest, Feline Abbo and Leah Burke.
Gefrorer led Grace's offense with one goal and one assist, taking nine shots with four shots on goal.
The Lancers begin a three-game road trip next, all three against ranked opponents. On Sept. 9, Grace will travel to play at No. 22 Olivet Nazarene.
