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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Senior Iris Dunn and freshman Chandler Backes each scored over the opening 45 minutes as WKU notched its eighth shutout of the season, downing UAB, 2-0, at the WKU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Both of WKU's goals came off crosses after being played up through the midfield. The Lady Toppers (10-4-0, 5-1-0) jumped ahead on Dunn's header in the 21st minute and doubled their advantage on Backes' strike exactly 20 minutes later. Backes' goal was her 10th of the season, making her just the fifth WKU player in program history to score double-digit goals in a single campaign.
Dunn led all players with four total shots and two shots on goal on Sunday afternoon, and she was one of five Lady Toppers to put a shot on target. Freshman Erin Jones, drawing the first start of her collegiate career, saw 47 minutes of action and notched the first point of her career after assisting on Dunn's goal.
Goalkeeper Allison Leone tallied her seventh solo shutout of the season and 20th of her career after playing all 90 minutes, saving three shots that included a late diving effort to preserve the two-goal lead.
Marin Carter, Megan Hudgens and Amy Brewer each had a shot on goal for the Blazers (4-8-1, 1-4-1) but could not find the back of the net. In goal, Kelsey Daugherty played the full 90 minutes, making four saves while giving up Dunn and Backes' goals.
After each team had their initial shots on goal saved over the first 18 minutes, WKU finally found a breakthrough at the 20:36 mark off the head of Dunn. Caitlin Hesse brought the ball up through the midfield before passing off to Jones on the left side, who then sent a cross into the box that Dunn headed down into the right corner past Daugherty to give the Lady Toppers a 1-0 lead.
Dunn nearly struck again with her head just nine minutes later. Set up by Nicole Roseland's corner, the Tavernier, Fla., native went up and tried to find the back of the net, but her headed effort went just wide left of the goal.
Backes doubled the advantage at the 40:42 mark on a similar play to WKU's first goal. After Megan Morris passed off to Bria Mosley on the right side, Mosley sent in a low cross and Backes found the chance with her foot to beat Daugherty low to the left side. The freshman's C-USA-leading 10th goal of the season sent WKU into the halftime break with a 2-0 lead.
In the 57th minute, Dunn's head once again nearly shined for WKU. Going up for a loose ball, the senior sent a high-arcing header toward goal and struck the crossbar above Daugherty's reach, but could not tally her second score of the day.
With two minutes remaining, Leone sealed the shutout with one of her finest saves of the season. Challenged on a long shot by Brewer, the Kennesaw, Ga., native dove to her left to corral the shot and maintained the clean sheet for the Lady Toppers.
WKU will return to action twice next weekend as the Lady Toppers make the Florida swing in C-USA play. WKU will take on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla., at 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday evening before traveling to Miami to face FIU at Noon (CT) next Sunday afternoon.
Season tickets are available online at WKUSports.com or by phone at 1-800-5-BIGRED. Tickets for the final two remaining regular season home matches against UTSA and Old Dominion are available.
For more information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team via social media @WKU_Soccer on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUAthletics.
