Tornado top Erskine for first CC win
DUE WEST, S.C. – The King University women's soccer team took to the road on Wednesday night to face Erskine College, and the Tornado pushed their unbeaten streak for four matches. The Tornado got a late first half goal from Rachel Thorpe, and added a pair of goals in the second half to take the 3-0 win.
The Flying Fleet (1-9, 1-2 CC) had the first scoring chances of the game as both came in the first 10 minutes. In the eighth minute, Hayley Rogers took a header that was saved by King's goalkeeper Morgan Lawson. Erskine's Jamie Morris had a chance in the 10th minute, but her shot was turned away by Lawson as play moved to the other end of the field.
Thorpe had a pair of shots saved in the 23rd and 27th minutes, and Shalisa Barnett that was turned away just two minutes later as the match remained scoreless. The duo had two more shots saved in the 36th minute before Thorpe finally broke through in the 40th minute. The sophomore took a through ball from Devon Shanklin and ripped her shot into the near corner of the net to put King (3-6-2, 1-1-2 CC) on top 1-0.
The score remained the same at halftime, and the Tornado continued to pressure the Erskine defense. The pressure paid off in the 70th minute as Keely Easterling netted her second goal in as many games. She took a pass from Paula Doran in the middle of the box and laced her shot into the back of the net.
Cassie Garland added an insurance goal in the 90th minute. Easterling played a cross, and Garland headed the ball over the keeper for her first career goal to give King the 3-0 victory.
The Tornado outshot the Flying Fleet 22-7 while King took five corner kicks to Erskine's three.
"Great overall team performance tonight, I am delighted with the win, and the first Conference Carolinas win of the season," head coach Simon Duffy said. "We scored three well deserved goals, to remain unbeaten in our last four games. We are looking forward to our home game with Lees-McRae College on Saturday."
The Tornado will be in action again on Saturday when they host Lees-McRae at 1:00 p.m., at Parks Field. King will be taking donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation at their annual Kick for the Cure game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the contest.
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