COLUMBIA, Ky. – The No. 14 Martin Methodist Women's Soccer team used a second half barrage to stun No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College in a 4-1 road victory Saturday night.
After a scoreless first half, the RedHawks (2-0) broke through for the first goal of the night when Miku Sunaga finished a long cross into the box from Caroline Ladaga in the 52nd minute.
That's when the floodgates opened for the RedHawks as they struck for goals in the 79th and 82nd minutes to blow the game open. Riko Sagara notched her first goal of the season after an assist from Millene Cabral, who then converted a penalty kick of her own to put the RedHawks ahead 3-0.
Lindsey Wilson scored a goal in the 85th minute to make the contest 3-1, but the RedHawks added a final goal when Ladaga converted a chance for the squad's fourth and final goal.
The win marked the first victory over a Top 5 opponent for the RedHawks since they knocked off then-No. 3 William Carey (Miss.) University at Grissom Pitch last October.
"It is always a huge test to go play at a perennial powerhouse like Lindsey Wilson in one of the most intimidating NAIA venues and to go up against one of the best coaches in the country," RedHawks head coach Will Austin said. "We had a goal disallowed in the first half and I really thought that might see our girls struggle to regroup for the second half. Not only were they unfazed, but took it to another level and scored four second half goals from four different goalscorers.
I could not be prouder of the toughness, focus and maturity shown by the entire squad. We were disappointed to be ranked at 14 in the preseason poll and we as a staff challenged our ladies to step it up and prove it on the pitch. They responded in style to that challenge here tonight."
The RedHawks will meet another quality foe in their next outing when they host Marian (Ind.) University Tuesday at Grissom Pitch. The Knights (1-1) received votes in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll and then defeated Brescia (Ky.) University by a lopsided 14-0 scoreline in their last outing.
Tuesday's meeting marks the first-ever matchup between the two clubs.
