Kayla Meyer led WKU (1-1-0) with two goals on the night to defeat Union (0-0-0). Olivia Cooke and Rebecca Roth each joined in on the scoring with a goal each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoring got underway in the 21st minute behind Meyer's first goal of the night. The senior worked her way around a Union defender and fired a shot from 20 yards out that ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar into the goal. WKU found the back of the net again 20 minutes later when Rylee Finol threaded a pass through defenders to Cooke who finished it off from the top of the box, giving the Tops a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
The Hilltoppers added to that lead in the 51st minute when Cooke found Roth open about 20 yards out. Roth fired it past the goalkeeper to find the back of the net. Meyer's second goal of the night and the fourth for WKU came in the 78th minute. Ashton Lynam sent a shot from inside the box that bounced off the right post back out to Meyer who finished it off.
NOTABLES
- Meyer's goals were the first of the season for the senior. The Littleton, Colorado native is up to nine career goals, including three game-winners. With four points on the season, Meyer now leads the team in goals and points.
- Cooke now has four career goals after netting her first half goal on Thursday. With a goal and an assist in the game, Cooke is tied for second on the team for the season with three points. The graduate student has five career assists.
- Lynam, who scored WKU's lone goal against Austin Peay, now has three points on the season as well after an assist against Union, tying her with Cooke for second on the team.
- Roth's goal was the second of her career and first of the season for the sophomore.
- Maddie Davis finished the game with three saves for her first shutout of the year and the ninth of her career. The clean sheet moves her into a tie for the sixth most career shutouts in WKU history (tied with Nikki Hall and Nora Abolins).
- WKU outshot Union 26-7 in the match, including a 17-4 advantage in the first half.
QUOTABLE
"I thought we came out a little bit shaky," said head coach Jason Neidell. "I thought our confidence may be a little rattled. It took a great goal by Kayla Meyer to really get us going. I thought that moment in the game really changed the game and boosted our confidence. I thought we played really well after that."
"I think we did really well (against Union)," said senior Kayla Meyer. "I think we came out and gave it our all and we got the (win)."
NEXT UP
WKU Soccer will continue its homestand with Evansville on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. at the WKU Soccer Complex.
