BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team used two consecutive goals scored within 10 seconds of each other to surge past Austin Peay on Sunday and pick up their first OVC victory of the season, 3-0. With the win, the Colonels improve to 3-7-2 (1-2 OVC) on the season, while the Lady Govs fall to 3-8-1 (1-1-1 OVC).

“We finally put it all together today,” junior defender Maddy Shumaker said. “We played a full 90 minutes and finished on our opportunities. The girls have full faith that we can win OVC matches and get into the OVC tournament.”

The Colonels avoided an early deficit when an Austin Peay goal was negated by an offsides penalty in the first half. The match went into halftime scoreless.

In the second half, freshman midfielder Heather Bruce sparked the EKU offense with an unassisted bomb from 25 yards out in the 53rd minute that sailed over the head of the Austin Peay keeper and into the right corner of the net, giving the Colonels a 1-0 advantage. It was Bruce’s second goal of the season.

Only 10 seconds later, sophomore forward Alex Hartwick dribbled toward the right of the net and poked it past the opposing keeper, pushing the Colonel lead to 2-0. It was also Hartwick’s second goal of 2008.

In the 77th minute, senior forward Kayla Swearingen added the final touch when she received a cross from sophomore defender Gabriella Wolf and punched it in from about 5 yards away. It was Swearingen’s second goal of the weekend and her team-leading fourth of the year. Swearingen’s four goals this season are a career-high.

EKU out shot APSU on the day, 17-6.

Sophomore keeper Stephanie Lynch recorded the shutout, playing all 90 minutes of the match and making four saves.

“We know we’re a good team,” Swearingen said. “But this win definitely motivates us to prove to everyone else in the league that we’re a good team.”

The Colonels return to action on Friday, October 10 when they travel to play Eastern Illinois. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.