APPLETON, Wis. –
Ingrid Steinbock (
Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) made 14 saves and the Lakeland University women's soccer team hung around until Lawrence University pulled away late for a 3-0 win in the teams' non-conference match Sunday afternoon at Lawrence's Banta Bowl.
Steinbock posted at least 14 saves for the third straight match to start the season but a large shots and time of possession advantage for the Vikings was too much to overcome. The Muskies dropped to 0-3 overall while Lawrence improved to 3-0-1 overall with its third win over a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference member this season.
The Vikings scored first in the match in the 23rd minute, when Zoe Feeley-Wheeler scored with an assist from Elena Hartung for a 1-0 lead. The score stayed that way well into the second half, though, with Lakeland hanging in even after Lawrence posted a 20-2 shots advantage in the first 45 minutes.
The Muskies had two of their best opportunities in the match in the first half, less than four minutes apart.
Taytum Theobald (
Sr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) stole a pass from Lawrence goalkeeper Claire Brockhert and in the 26th minute and quickly fed
Malaya Sperber (
Jr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.), whose shot went wide of the goal. Sperber then came down the right side of the field in the 30th minute, shook two defenders and struck a left-footed shot that Brockhert made the save on to keep it a 1-0 game.
The Vikings finally stretched the lead out in the 66th minute when Kylie Melonis scored an unassisted goal to make it 2-0. Lawrence added a final goal at 74:38 of the match, with Ava Bedan scoring unassisted for a three-goal margin.
Lawrence finished with a 34-3 advantage in shots. Sperber generated two shots for Lakeland and Theobald added the other shot, coming in the second half.
The Muskies return home for their next match Wednesday against Alverno College at 7 p.m. at Taylor Field.
