Women's Soccer Shuts Out Cornerstone 2-0

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - UNOH women's soccer netted twice in the second half Saturday afternoon to take down Cornerstone 2-0 and earn their sixth shutout in the last seven games.

Despite a dominant first half, the Racers couldn't get themselves in front outshooting the Golden Eagles 8-2 but playing out a scoreless first 45. UNOH continued to controll the match into the second half but the first and eventual game winning goal didn't come until the 68th minute. 

As they have many times this season, the Racers found success off a corner kick routine taken by Celia Catalan Keck. The initial ball was headed down by Judy McIntosh near the opposite post sending it back across the keeper's box where Vivian Purmonen tapped it into the net unchallenged. Keck was credited with an assist on the score putting her first in the WHAC with six this season.

The dagger dropped just seven minutes later with a quick build up from near midfield. Alivia Chambers linked with Camila Rico in stride who quickly pushed the ball ahead to Mathilda Berg Karlsson cutting along the left side of the box. Heavily marked, Karlsson held off the defender and struck with her left foot crossing the keepers face into the opposite side of the net.

It was the eighth goal of the season for Karlsson putting her in a tie for first in the conference. Combined with her five assists, Karlsson also boasts 21 points this year which is best in the WHAC. 

Sophia Eisner (8-2) earned her seventh clean sheet of the season making two saves over her 90 minutes in front of net.

The trek for a conference crown took an interesting twist Saturday as five-time defending WHAC Champion Aquinas took their first conference loss since 2019. The Saints dropped 1-0 to Lourdes putting the Gray Wolves in lone control of first-place at 5-0. UNOH will now make the trip up I-75 on Wednesday, October 8 for a pivotal matchup with Lourdes and a chance to pull the regular season title back into reach.