Kasper Sets Gorlok Assist Mark
Senior forward Melissa Kasper (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) recorded assists on all of her team's three goals to Webster's career assist record here Saturday afternoon as the Gorloks women's soccer team posted a 3-0 shutout victory over MacMurray College in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Worldwide Technology Soccer Park.
Kasper's three assists pushed her career total to 50, which bettered the old school record mark of 47 set by Webster and SLIAC Hall of Famer Christy Capkovic from 2007-10. Kasper has now recorded 13 assists this season and has had 32 assists over the past two seasons.
With Saturday's victory, Webster, who is ranked sixth in this week's NCAA Division III Central Regional rankings, extends its win streak to two and improves its record to 11-4-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the SLIAC, while MacMurray falls to 6-9-0 overall and 3-4 in the league. With Webster's win and a tie on Saturday between Westminster and Fontbonne, the Gorloks moved into second place in the league standings behind Greenville (8-5-2 overall, 5-0-1 SLIAC), who had its home match with Iowa Wesleyan postponed.
In Saturday's win, Webster's offense recorded 24 shots and had eight shot on goal, while their defense held the Highlanders to just one shot, which came late in the 88th minute.
Neither team was able to score in the opening 45 minutes of the match that was played in cool and rainy conditions throughout the match. The Gorloks were held scoreless in the first half for the fourth consecutive match.
Kasper's first assist came in the 56th minute as she assisted on a goal by senior midfielder Olivia Osterhage (Eureka, Mo./Eureka). Osterhage's goal was header off a corner kick by Kasper.
Sophomore forward Jordan Lande (Sachse, Texas/Sachse) gave the Gorloks a 2-0 lead in the 63rd minute as she took a pass from Kasper and connected from 12 yards out. The goal by Lande was her team leading 16th of the season. The 16 goals are tied for 13th on the school's single season chart.
Freshman midfielder Sophia Lambiase (Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas/Samuel V. Champion) scored WU's third and final goal off an assist by Kasper in the 73rd minute. Lambiase's shot came from about four yards out.
Senior midfielder Savannah Page (Sandy, Utah/Jordan) paced the Gorloks with five shots, while Kasper, Lande, Lambiase and Osterhage and four other Gorloks collected two shots in the win. Overall for the match, 12 Gorloks recorded at least one shot.
Kaylee McClanahan took MacMurray's lone shot.
The Highlanders played the match without Krystal Kohensky, who entered the match leading the league with 17 goals this season. Kohensky missed the match due to injury.
Freshman goalkeeper Taryn Banfield (Plano, Texas/Plano East) moved to 10-3-1 overall on the season as she played all 90 minutes in net and didn't face a shot. The shutout was the ninth of the season for the Gorloks.
Kayla Enochs (6-9-0) took the loss in net for MacMurray as she allowed three goals and recorded five saves.
The Gorloks will look to win its third straight match this coming Tuesday, Oct. 29 as they travel to Elsah, Ill., for a 6 p.m. SLIAC match at Principia College.
STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
