THE STORY: Juniata women's soccer team defeated the Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats 8-2 at Gibbel Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 4. After a tough loss on Saturday, the Eagles bounced back with six goals in the first half alone.
THE FIRST SIX: The Eagles got on the board early with a goal in the third minute of the game from Anna Kauffman (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area), assisted by Taylor Garraffa (Lampeter-Strasburg).
In the 11th minute, on a pass from Kauffman, Nicole Saulnier (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) sailed the ball over the goalkeeper's head from the top of the box for the Eagles' second goal of the game. This was the junior defender's first collegiate goal.
After three more shots from the Eagles, and three saves from the goalkeeper, Kauffman knocked it in on an open net, again assisted by Garraffa, to put Juniata up 3-0.
Juniata dominated the rest of the half with eight shots and three goals within five minutes. Starting with Devin Kos's (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area) long shot over the goalkeeper's head, the Eagles added on with goals from Jessica Zavadak (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and Olivia Claycomb (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain).
By the end of the half, Juniata held a 6-0 lead.
TWO FOR EACH IN THE SECOND: The Bobcats and Eagles played evenly in the second half with two goals from each side. Pitt.-Greensburg got on the board in the 50th minute. Saulnier answered two minutes later with her second goal of the day to keep a six-goal lead.
Kos then scored the final Juniata goal of the day in the 56th minute, assisted by Aubrie Christensen (Suwanee, Ga./Manheim Township).
HIGH SCORE: Today's eight goals is the most scored by Juniata women's soccer since the 2013 season opener against Southern Vermont when head coach Scott McKenzie and his players won 8-0. The program high was set in 2008 when Juniata beat Keystone College 12-0.
INSIDE THE BOX: Juniata outshot the Bobcats 32-6 with 19 shots in the first half and 13 in the second. Kauffman led the powerful offense with seven shots; Zavadak followed with four.
Elizabeth Bentz (Wolf, Pa./Northeastern), Christensen, Claycomb, Garraffa (2) and Kauffman each notched assists today.
POST-GAME REMARKS: Coach McKenzie stated after the game that it was encouraging to see every player giving all of their effort. "We got better today," he said.
WHAT'S NEXT?: The women and men's team go back-to-back on Saturday, Oct. 8 against Drew. The women play at 1 p.m. at Gibbel Stadium; the men follow at 3:30 p.m.
