Junior forward Ernestina Zappa (Brooklyn, OH/Laurel) had two goals and an assist to lead the Terriers to a 3:0 shutout of Spalding University (KY) on a wet and dreary day at “The Hill” at Hiram College.  With the win, Hiram is off to a 2-0-0 start for the first time in two seasons.

“We are really happy to off to a strong start and to build confidence,” said Head Coach Bob Dean.  “We created so many chances and kept them off the score sheet.  Those are all good signs.  The reality is that we know there is a great deal of work to do as we move forward against some of the best opponents.”

Hiram spent most of the first half in the Golden Eagles’ half as they continually generated chance after chance, totaling 15 quality chances before the interval.  Fortunately, the young team never showed signs of frustration and kept the pressure on.

In the 28^th minute, freshman forward Sam Zuponcic (Mantua, OH/Crestwood) took a difficult ball out of the air near the edge of the penalty area and got in behind the Spalding back line.  Golden Eagle keeper Kim Truster took Zuponcic down in the area and Zappa stepped up to deftly place the spot kick into the lower right corner to give the Terriers a deserved 1:0 lead. 

Hiram continued to push Spalding into their own defensive third repeatedly and racked up seven corners before the half, but were unable to put another goal into the back of the net.

The same story continued in the 2^nd half as the Terriers wore down their guests with substitutions and relentless possession.  The quality of the passing and connecting increased with time through the 70^th minute.  In the 73^rd minute, freshman forward Jessica Berube (Barberton, OH/Norton) came onto a deflected service that was redirected toward her and managed to slip a crafty little pass to Zappa just on the edge of the area.  Zappa took a touch to change the pursuit of the keeper and deftly slipped her next touch into the back of the net to give Hiram a 2:0 advantage.

Credit the Golden Eagles as they continued to battle and scrap for possession, but simply to no avail.  Less than five minutes after opening up a greater lead, the Terriers struck again with a familiar combination.  The midfield found Zappa in the gap behind the Spalding mids and in front of their backline.  She was able to turn and find a slashing Berube running uncontested into the penalty area for an easy tuck-away finish that slammed the door on the match for Hiram.

The Terriers generated another 18 quality chances in the 2^nd half along with 16 shots on target.  The 15 corner kicks in the match eclipse the previous single match mark that was achieved by the Terriers twice in 2008.

Hiram will host the #3 nationally-ranked Otterbein Cardinals at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Sept. 7 on “The Hill” match field at the Hiram College Soccer Complex in a non-conference match-up between the two Ohio rivals.  The two schools have not met since 1999 when Hiram left the OAC for the NCAC.

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