Fighting Scots 2007 Women's Soccer Game Summaries

Monmouth at Carroll, Waukesha, Wis.
Carroll 6, Monmouth 0 (Record: 8-7-3, 4-3-2 in MWC)
Simply put, the Fighting Scots ran into a good team that was having a very good day. The host Pioneers, who had clinched the MWC title the day before, reeled off three goals in a five-minute span midway through the first half to stretch their one-goal to a 4-0 advantage. Monmouth found a few cracks in the Carroll defense, but not many, getting outshot 20-2 for the match.

Monmouth at Ripon, Ripon, Wis.
Monmouth 6, Ripon 0 (Record: 8-6-3, 4-2-2 in MWC)
Fueled by a hat trick by Niki Sue Williams, the Fighting Scots clinched a winning overall record and fifth place in the MWC. Becca Baur put the Scots ahead in the sixth minute with a first-touch shot from beyond the penalty box and Sarah Kisner made it 2-0 in the 14th minute when she headed in Jenny Tunberg's cross. Williams notched the first of her three goals 20 minutes later on an assist from Megan Meeke, and Emily Caron knocked in the Scots' fourth goal of the half, again on a shot from outside the box, with the assist going to Baur. Williams tacked on the final two scores in the second half, with one coming on a pretty assist from Caron. Sarah Wintersteen had four saves as the Scots posted their fourth shutout of the year.

Monmouth vs. Lake Forest, Monmouth, Ill.
Lake Forest 1, Monmouth 0 (Record: 7-6-3, 3-2-2 in MWC)
Soccer matches with only one goal can be just as exciting as high-scoring affairs, as the Fighting Scots and Foresters proved. Lake Forest went with the wind in the first half, and the strong gusts gave the Foresters a decided advantage as they fired 13 shots compared to just two for Monmouth. However, goalie Sarah Wintersteen came up big, making eight saves and coming off her line to turn away several other attacks, keeping the score at 0-0. The teams switched directions in the second half, but it was Lake Forest which managed to score, as Marly Ashworth got behind the Monmouth defense by a full five yards and beat Wintersteen on a breakaway. The Scots pushed forward to try to net the equalizer, and they had three strong opportunities in the final five minutes. They headed a corner kick cross off the post, forced LFC goalie Allison Lynch to make a spectacular save on a shot by Niki Sue Williams and then, with the clock about to turn 0:00, put a close-range shot just over the crossbar.

Monmouth vs. Beloit, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 2, Beloit 0 (Record: 7-5-3, 3-1-2 in MWC)
Becca Baur and Tina Rohrbach were in the right place at the right time in the second half, each knocking home crosses from Megan Meeke to lift the Fighting Scots to an important conference win. The Scots had the wind in the first half but couldn't find the back of the net despite outshooting the Bucs 11-4. In the second half, Monmouth continued to get the better of play. Less than two minutes in, Meeke created an opportunity down the right side. Her cross was just out of reach of Beloit goalie Katie Schurr, and Baur drilled a shot into the open net for a 1-0 lead. With 10 minutes to go, Monmouth was awarded a corner kick, and Meeke's cross floated over Schurr's head to a wide-open Rohrbach, who notched her first collegiate goal. The Scots outshot the Bucs 22-6 overall.

Monmouth vs. Cornell, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 2, Cornell 1 (Record: 6-5-3)
The Fighting Scots handed the Rams just their second loss in their last eight matches thanks to two first-half goals by Sarah Kisner and a solid effort defensively. Kisner opened the scoring in the 18th minute on a 25-yard blast that went in just under the crossbar. Just over 10 minutes later, Monmouth was awarded a free kick from 20 yards out on the right side. Megan Meeke left the ball back for Whitney Ott, whose hard drive to the far post was headed in by Kisner for her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Cornell cut Monmouth's lead in half just 2:12 into the second period, but the Scots hung on from there. Ott, Tina Rohrbach, Holly White and Niki Sue Williams all stepped into new positions in the game and produced strong performances as the Scots outshot the Rams 17-10. Goalkeeper Sarah Wintersteen had six saves, including a spectacular in the second half.

Monmouth vs. Lawrence, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 1, Lawrence 1 (Record: 5-5-3, 2-1-2 in MWC)
The Fighting Scots completed what might have been the hottest Midwest Conference doubleheader weekend in history without a loss, but without a win, either. Megan Meeke's goal with 39 seconds to play saved the Scots from losing a game that saw them ultimately outshoot their foes 30-8. Lawrence had the wind in the first half, creating several good chances and firing off five of their shots. Monmouth had most of the play from there, getting 22 shots on goal compared to just three for the Vikings over the final 65 minutes, but Lawrence got on the scoreboard first off a free kick in the 67th minute. The Scots frantically attacked the goal in the closing minutes of regulation, finally scoring when Lauren Vana's corner kicker found its way to Emily Caron, who assisted Meeke's tying goal. Lawrence goalkeeper Lindsay Ahlen then came up big in the second OT, just deflecting Meeke's potential game-winning shot over the bar to post the most spectacular of her 15 saves in the match. 

Monmouth vs. St. Norbert, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 3, St. Norbert 3 (Record: 5-5-2, 2-1-1 in MWC)
The Fighting Scots and visiting Green Knights battled through 110 minutes of evenly-played soccer in a match that had something for everybody. The last big play of the match was a point-blank save by Monmouth goalie Sarah Wintersteen with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime. Their were other big defensive moments, too, highlighted for Monmouth by strong play in the back by Brittney Parker, Hillary Broms and Lauren Vana. But the game also had plenty of offense, and that trio of Monmouth defenders all contributed as the Scots tied a 2006 playoff team that handed them their worst defeat a year ago. After Ann Maki scored for the visitors in the 13th minute, Vana tied the game seven minutes later on a penalty kick. The Scots then pushed ahead in the second half when Vana's free kick found the foot of Parker, whose first-touch finish made the score 2-1. The Knights' Rachelle Barina and Maki scored back-to-back goals 10 minutes apart to take a lead 3-2 with 18:30 remaining, but Broms then delivered her offensive contribution, setting up Megan Meeke, whose far-post shot tied the score with 15:46 to play. The Knights held a slight 16-14 advantage in shots, and Wintersteen made 11 saves. 

Monmouth at Clarke, Dubuque, Iowa
Clarke 2, Monmouth 1 (Record: 5-5-1)
The Fighting Scots used a great goal to pull even with the hosts in the second half but could not hang on. In the 60th minute, Brittney Parker and Megan Meeke had a great exchange down the right sideline that led to a corner kick. Lauren Vana then crossed the ball perfectly and Whitney Ott headed it home for her first collegiate goal. Clarke's Melissa Guthrie scored both goals for the Crusaders, getting behind the defense to face goalkeeper Sarah Wintersteen one-on-one. On the first occasion, she barely beat the Scots' offside trap, and she took advantage of a defensive miscue on the other goal, which came in the 75th minute. The Crusaders, an NAIA program, outshot Monmouth 13-7.

Monmouth vs. Hannibal-LaGrange, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 2, Hannibal-LaGrange 1 (Record: 5-4-1)
Megan Meeke's rebound goal with 8:35 to play lifted the Fighting Scots to a come-from-behind victory. On the winning play, co-captains Sarah Kisner and Lauren Lafond were credited with the assist, as Kisner sent Lafond down the sideline with a lead pass and Lafond got a good look on goal. Her shot was stopped by the fingertips of HLG's goalie, but Meeke was right on the doorstep to knock it in. Monmouth had tied the game with 41:07 remaining when Becca Baur scored off an assist from Niki Sue Williams. A strong wind gave a definite advantage throughout the game, and the visitors used it in the first half, scoring on a header off a flip throw in the 19th minute. Playing with the wind in the second half, Monmouth outshot HLG 12-2 and led that category 19-7 for the game.

Monmouth at Knox, Galesburg, Ill.
Monmouth 6, Knox 0 (Record: 4-4-1, 2-1 in MWC)
On a beautiful fall afternoon, the Fighting Scots had a feel-good win, with 24 players seeing action and seven players getting credit for a goal, an assist or both. Sarah Kisner got the Scots on the scoreboard with a rebound goal in the 18th minute and she also converted on a cross from Niki Sue Williams with 8:30 left in the first half to make the score 4-0. In between, Megan Meeke scored twice, once on a cross from Lauren Lafond and the other on a breakaway down the middle on an assist from Becca Baur. Lafond and Baur added goals in the second half, with Baur knocking in Lauren Vana's corner kick and Lafond sending a far-post blast from well outside the penalty box. Emily Caron was credited with an assist on the play. The Scots outshot the Prairie Fire 41-3.

Monmouth at Grinnell, Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell 3, Monmouth 1 (Record: 3-4-1, 1-1 in MWC)
As evidenced by their scant 14-12 deficit in shots, the Fighting Scots put up a good battle against defending Midwest Conference champion Grinnell. Monmouth played hard to the final whistle and was rewarded with 14 minutes to play by a penalty kick. Lauren Vana cashed in the opportunity to close the deficit back to two goals, but the Scots could get no closer. Grinnell started the scoring in the eighth minute when one of its forwards misplayed a cross. The misdirection proved costly, though, as the ball trickled into the goal off the far post. Miki Nakumura then broke free behind the Scots' defense to make the score 2-0 in the 29th minute. Both teams had great opportunities to add to the scoring in the first half, but Sarah Kisner's long shot was deflected off the crossbar by the Pioneers' goalie, and her counterpart, Sarah Wintersteen, pushed a goal-bound blast over the bar herself. The Pioneers made it a 3-0 game in the 58th minute when Katherine Ni scored after a Scots' misplay in the back. Despite the defeat, the Scots gave a good effort. The defense, led by Vana and sweeper Brittney Parker, was solid, and the unit received a last-minute boost off the bench from Tina Rohrbach.

Monmouth at Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill.
Monmouth 5, IC 2 (Record: 3-3-1, 1-0 in MWC)
The Fighting Scots finally got the offense they'd been searching for, striking for four goals in the first half en route to a victory in their conference opener. Sarah Kisner started the scoring with a left-footed blast from outside the penalty box to put the Scots up 1-0 in the 10th minute. Lauren Vana doubled the lead when her corner kick sailed directly into the goal in the 26th minute. Just four minutes later, Niki Sue Williams capped off a pretty passing sequence by drilling a left-footed shot inside the near post. Lauren Lafond and Megan Meeke were credited with assists on the play. Meeke closed the first-half scoring with an unassisted tally. The goals by Williams and Meeke were the first of their collegiate careers. Three minutes into the second half, Sally Hayes' corner kick deflected in off an IC player to put Monmouth ahead 5-0. The Scots played all 26 of their players and had 10 starters on the bench when the hosts scored a pair of goals midway through the second half.

Monmouth at Coe, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Monmouth 1, Coe 1 (Record: 2-3-1)
Sarah Kisner's well-struck free kick put the Fighting Scots ahead 1-0 early, but a late first-half goal by the Kohawks evened the score. That's the way it stayed through the second half and two overtime periods, resulting in Monmouth's first tie since the 2006 season opener. Brittney Parker and Lauren Vana led a strong effort by the defense, which allowed just seven shots in 110 minutes of action. Lauren Lafond and Megan Meeke helped the Scots generate some good offensive chances and 12 shots overall, including three by Meeke and two apiece by Becca Baur and Whitney Ott.

Monmouth vs. Central, Monmouth, Ill.
Central 3, Monmouth 0 (Record: 2-3)
The Fighting Scots were sailing along through a scoreless tie until a quick counterattack by the visiting Dutch 10 minutes into the second half led to a goal and a 1-0 lead. Monmouth then pushed more players into the attack to try to get the goal back, but Central took advantage and knocked in two more goals in the 68th and 79th minutes to send the Scots to their third straight defeat. While the game was still scoreless, goalkeeper Sarah Wintersteen made a great save on a breakaway, and Megan Meeke was also active on the Scots' front line, generating a team-high four shots. The Scots outshot the Dutch in each of the halves and held an 18-12 advantage in the game.

Monmouth at Millikin, Decatur, Ill.
Millikin 6, Monmouth 1 (Record: 2-2)
The Fighting Scots suffered their worst loss in three seasons, falling by five goals to a Big Blue team that entered the day averaging five goals per game. Millikin's goals came from six different players on a variety of opportunities, including a breakaway, a corner kick and a shot from the top of the penalty box. Trailing 4-0 late in the first half, Monmouth gained some momentum for halftime when Brittney Parker netted her third goal of the season. The Scots were in the midst of a solid defensive stretch that lasted well into the second half, but Millikin scored its fifth goal after a 46-minute drought to clinch the outcome.

Monmouth vs. Dubuque, Monmouth, Ill.
Dubuque 4, Monmouth 0 (Record: 2-1)
Against a talented Dubuque team, the Scots could ill afford any mistakes, but the Spartans were able to cash in on two golden opportunities in the first 12 minutes and cruised to the win. Monmouth outshot Dubuque in both the first half and the game but could not get on the scoreboard. One Fighting Scot shot bounced off both posts before being cleared, and a shot that did cross the goal-line was negated by an offsides call. Emily Azinger had all four goals for the Spartans, including one with 10:08 left in the game to conclude the scoring.

Monmouth vs. Iowa Wesleyan, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 2, Iowa Wesleyan 1 (Record: 2-0)
After surrendering an early goal on an impressive left-footed blast by IWC's Mindy Rauwolf, the Fighting Scots fought back to win their second match of the year. Rauwolf's goal came in the 17th minute, but Brittney Parker answered 17 minutes later after a great stretch of soccer. Midfielder Lauren Lafond played a ball ahead to overlapping defender Hillary Broms, whose cross from the corner flag found Parker for the equalizer. Just three minutes later, Sarah Kisner won a heavily-contested battle for a loose ball in front of the Tigers' net and got it just over the goal-line, with the assist going to Megan Meeke. After returning to the field following a 45-minute thunder delay, Monmouth had the better of play, and Kayla Trammell, who handled the goalkeeping chores for the final 51:40, only had to save one shot on goal. Whitney Ott starred again at her sweeper spot, and Lauren Vana and Kisner were also very active in the center midfield.

Monmouth vs. Eureka, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 1, Eureka 0
The Fighting Scots controlled play throughout en route to picking up their first season-opening victory since 2002. Despite their dominant play, it wasn't until freshman Brittney Parker headed in a free kick from Lauren Vana seven minutes into the second half that Monmouth was able to get on the scoreboard. Many excellent opportunities preceded the goal and several more followed, as Monmouth outshot their guests 45-1. Sarah Wintersteen and Kayla Trammell split time in the nets for the Scots, and defenders Whitney Ott, Lindsay Johnson and Becca Baur were solid, playing hard in the back for the entire 90 minutes.