URBANA, Ohio - On a beautiful afternoon at Urbana University Stadium, the Blue Knight women's soccer team snapped a three-game losing streak against the visiting Tigers from Salem International University.  Urbana scored three times before the half en route to a 6-0 victory in their 2011 season finale.

 

Urbana started the scoring early in the first half.  After just 7 minutes of action, Abby Pearson fed Ashley Pfahl in the box.  Pfahl (pictured) shot quickly to beat the approaching keeper.  Her shot would have trickled into the goal uncontested, but senior Brooke Shultz helped it along on a point-blank shot for the 1-0 lead.  A half hour later, Urbana doubled their lead on a more conventional goal from Brittany Mazzu.  Mazzu fired a shot on the ground into the far post for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.  Katie Felty provided the assist on a crossing pass into the box.

Just before the half, the home team tacked on one more goal.  This time, Mazzu sent a cross into the box, and freshman Samantha Stant touched the ball home for her first collegiate goal.

Pfahl opened the second half with her third goal of the season on an extended breakaway, and Brooke Smith gave the Blue Knights a 5-0 lead on a 30-yard rocket in the 73rd minute.  The goal was Smith's second of the season. Pfahl finished the scoring with another breakaway goal in the 80th minute.  Combining for the win in goal was junior Meghan Taucher and Stant.  Taucher had 4 saves in the first half.  Stant saved 3 Salem shots in the second half.

Salem saw a three-game winning streak snapped with the loss.  The Tigers end their year at 4-11-0.  The Blue Knights conclude their fall season with a record of 5-12-1, including a 5-2-1 mark at home.  The team finished with one more win than they had a year ago, and with her goal today, senior Brooke Shultz (pictured) ended her four-year career 7th all-time at Urbana with 15 career goals.

[Box Score]
[Final 2011 Season Stats]