COLUMBUS, Ohio - The temperatures are dropping, but Ohio Dominican's women's soccer team remained red hot Sunday afternoon as the Panthers routed Lake Erie 5-0 on their annual Senior Day for their sixth straight win. 

With their record tying sixth consecutive shutout coupled with a 1-1 draw between Ferris State (Mich.) and Tiffin earlier today, the Panthers, now 8-6-2 overall, moved into a tie for the South Division lead with the Dragons at 6-4-2. Contingent on their final two games, ODU is in position to host a first round home game or receive a bye in the GLIAC Tournament. The loss brings Lake Erie's record to 1-14-1 overall and 0-12-0 in the conference.

It was all ODU from the opening whistle as junior Kirsten Hoy (Worthington, OH) got the offense rolling, gathering a loose ball in the short right wing and sending it to the far post just 3:11 into the game for her third score of the season. The score marked the sixth time the Panthers have taken a 1-0 lead within the first six minutes of a contest. 

Faced with the possibility of playing at Panther Field for the last time, seniors Marie Fudacz (Toledo, OH), Sierra Patterson (Brecksville, OH), Slone Fleak (Sunbury, OH) and Jill Davis (Middletown, OH) put together an offensive show in the second half. Fudacz, with her second career score and first since her freshman campaign in 2008, put ODU up 2-0 in the 54th minute as she sent home a 13-yard straight on shot off a pair of passes from Patterson and junior Jennifer Holton (Johnstown, OH).

Moments later at the 55:17 mark, Holton found Patterson with her team-leading sixth assist, a cross from the far left wing to the front of the net where Patterson recorded her team-leading fifth score from 13 yards out. 

In the 69th minute, sophomore Danielle Scheetz (Coshocton, OH) brought the Panthers lead to 4-0 as she headed in a 33-yard free kick by Fleak at the far post for her first collegiate goal.  

After recording her first career assist, Sleak recorded her second career score off a free kick from about 28 yards deep with just under five minutes remaining for the game's final tally. The five goals is the most by ODU since a 5-1 home win over Cedarville back in 2009, while the five-score margin is the greatest in a shutout since a 7-0 road win against Daemen (N.Y.)  in 2008. 

Freshman Laura Clark (Lapeer, MI) collected her eighth win between the pipes and with her seventh shutout, sits one shy of matching the program's single-season record of eight, held by three players.  Clark and the Panthers have not allowed a goal in the last 585:39 minutes, dating back to Oct. 2 and an early second half score against than No. 5 Grand Valley State (Mich.). 

With the home portion of its slate complete, ODU heads to Michigan for its final two regular season contests, beginning with a 2 p.m. battle against Saginaw Valley State on Friday, Oct. 28.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu