Bloomington, Illinois - The second-ranked
Trinity women's soccer team opened the NCAA Division III
Championship with a 3-1 victory over the Augustana (Ill.) Vikings
on a rainy Saturday night at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Trinity (22-0-1) is competing in its fifth straight NCAA
Tournament, and advances to take on host Illinois Wesleyan in the
second round at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, at Neis Field. The winner will
advance to the NCAA Sectionals, to be held November 22-24 at a site
to be determined.
Illinois Wesleyan (13-3-5) was a 3-0 first-round winner over
Transylvania.
Augustana (12-5-4) scored first in the 27th minute, as
Somer Druszkowski was credited with the goal after a mishandled
ball by the Tiger goalkeeper.
But Trinity's Shelby Guenthardt scored two goals within a
five-minute time span to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Guenthardt's first goal, in the 37th minute, was a solo
shot from the right, in front of the Augustana keeper. Kelsey
Falcone headed a pass to Guenthardt in the 42nd minute of
play.
Guenthardt, who has scored 17 goals this season (four
game-winners), also has 52 career scoring plays to her credit.
Earlier this season, Guenthardt became the fourth Trinity player to
record 50 or more goals in a career.
Falcone added a goal with nine minutes remaining in the game, on
an assist from Hannah Hommel. The prolific Falcone is
Trinity's leading scorer, with 20 goals this season. She also
has chalked up 12 assists, for 52 total points.