SMU Routs Northwestern State, 8-0

September 8, 2016

DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's soccer team dominated from start to finish, as the Mustangs rolled to an 8-0 shutout over Northwestern State, Thursday night at Westcott Field. Six different Mustangs scored, including freshman forward Allie Thornton and sophomore defender Haley Thompson who converted two apiece.

"I am really impressed with our kids and what they did tonight," SMU head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "I thought the young players were really good. Obviously Allie was really good and I thought Katina (Tsapos) was outstanding."

On the offensive end, 14 Mustangs took at least one shot with 11 posting a shot on goal. As a collective, SMU tallied 43 shots and 23 shots on goal. Twenty-eight of the 43 shots came in the second 45 minutes.

Redshirt sophomore Vanessa Valadez scored the first goal of the 2016 campaign by converting a penalty kick in the eighth minute. The goal was the 10th of her career. The 2015 American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team honoree tallied seven shots, three shots on goal and two assists in 54 minutes.

In her collegiate debut, Thornton pressed and beat the goalkeeper in the 23rd minute to score her first collegiate goal and give SMU a 2-0 advantage.

Thompson scored two goals in two minutes, to give SMU a comfortable 4-0 lead at halftime. The first goal came in the 32nd minute, when she placed a corner kick in the upper, far corner of the net. In the 34th minute, Avery Ortmann found Thompson from outside of the 18-yard box, where the sophomore headed it into the net.

Hannah Fleet, a redshirt freshman, scored her second career goal and gave SMU a 5-0 lead in the 63rd minute, after heading a cross from Valadez. Minutes later in the 66th minute, Thornton weaved through defenders and scored SMU's sixth goal from nine-yards out.

Paige Jacobs scored her seventh career goal in the 71st minute, and freshman Robyn Maurer scored her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate game.

Senior Taylor Barg anchored the Mustang defense, logging a full 90 minutes. The back line kept opposing strikers at bay, allowing eight shots the entire game with no shots on goal.

The Mustangs will have a quick turnaround and square off against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT. The Islanders are 0-2 this season, with a game at North Texas before meeting at SMU.

Postgame notes: The last time the last Mustangs scored at least eight goals was Aug. 29, 2003 at Sam Houston State. SMU went on to win the game 10-1.