The Women’s Prairie Stars soccer team shut out the Lynx from Lindenwood University at their home opener. This was the second time these two teams faced off against each other. After playing in pouring rain and being delayed by a tornado watch, the first game ended in a 0-0 tie Friday night.
After the tie game, the team looked ahead to Sunday’s game. Head Coach Pete Kowall stated their plans were “to keep passing the ball around and stay organized.”
The Sunday game kicked off at noon at Kiwanis Stadium, it was warm, humid and slightly breezy, but otherwise a great day for a soccer game. The two teams went back and forth with several close goals and some great headers, but the Stars did not get their first goal until the twenty-eighth minute when sophomore forward Kim Tokarski would put the ball in the back of the net, with an assist by junior midfield Ashley Stariha.
With just over six minutes remaining in the first half, Lindenwood’s goalie was taken off the field due to an unexpected injury.
The Stars went on to score again less than a minute later, thanks to a goal by freshman forward Eileen Kenny assisted by senior midfield Erin Egolf. Going into half time the Stars had a 2-0 lead over the visiting Lynx.
The Lynx started with the ball to kick off the second half. A lot like the first half, the Stars were on the offensive and had several close goals. Nineteen minutes into the second half the Stars were fouled in the box and earned a penalty kick. Senior forward Ally Redington stepped up to take the shot and scored for the Stars.
After several more minutes of constant battling for the ball, Egolf scored the fourth point for the Stars, assisted by Redington. The Lynx were not able to recover and the Stars shut out Lindenwood 4-0.
When the statistics were finalized, the Stars out shot their opponents 30-5. After the game, Kowall said “I’m proud of the girls being able to come out and play the way they did after the game we had on Friday.” The women’s soccer team’s next game is set for Friday, Sept. 7, at 5p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.
