(ALTOONA, Pa.) – History was made as the Wilson women's soccer team defeated Penn State Altoona with another shutout in non-conference action on Wednesday. With the win, the Phoenix are off to their best start in program history as they have remained unbeaten through five games. In doing so the Blue and White recorded another clean sheet to keep their opponents scoreless against them this season.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 3, Penn State Altoona 0
Venue: Spring Run Stadium
Records: Wilson 4-0-1, Penn State Altoona 0-4-1
How it Happened
- Similar to the contest against Immaculata, it didn't take Wilson long to find the back of the net as Zoie Echols (FY, Harrisburg, Pa.) scored just 8:06 into the contest for her first collegiate goal.
- In the Nittany Lions attempt to pull even, they took the next three shots with the latter two on goal in the 20th and 21st minutes, but Madison Ebersole (FY, Big Pool, Md. / Clear Springs) made the save on both accounts to keep the game scoreless.
- Midway through the frame Annie Smith (So., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) started to put pressure on the Altoona back line. Her shot in the 23rd minute hit the crossbar and a second shot went wide right five minutes later. The third time wasn't the charm either as Altoona keeper Adeline Baustert made the save. With just under 10 minutes to go in the half, Smith finally broke through to score her first of the season and gave Wilson a 2-0 lead at the break.
- The second half saw Wilson stay true to form as the previous three halves as the Blue and White found the back of the net 6:43 into the second. A pass from Smith set up Halley Shaffer (Jr., Sunbury, Pa. / Line Mountain), but her acrobatic shot went off the near post. Thankfully the ricochet came right back to her and she slammed it into the far side.
- Wilson kept the pressure on while the defense once again limited the opponent's opportunities as Altoona was limited to two shots the rest of the way. Rebecaa Marakovitz (Sr., New Market, Md. / Linganore) played the second half and made saves on both.
Inside The Numbers
- Ebersole and Marakovitz both made three saves in each of for the Phoenix. Wilson outshot the Nittany Lions 16-7 as the back line defense of Sydney Bradshaw (So., Annandale, Va. / Stonebridge), Julia Elliott (Sr., Annapolis, Md. / Broadneck), Gretchen Turner (Jr., York, Pa. / Northeastern), Jade Wolfe (Sr., Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan), Savanna Mackie (FY, Hanover, Pa. / Southwestern), Samantha Woolley (FY, Chesapeake, Va.), and Autumn DiCandilo (FY, Harleysville, Pa. / Souderton) limited their chances.
- Dating back to last season, Wilson has shutout its opponent in 10 of the last 11 regular season games.
- Wilson is one of 28 teams remaining nationally who have yet to allow a goal this season.
- Wilson's previous best start came during the 2016 season when the Phoenix started off 4-0 with wins over Mary Baldwin, Valley Forge, Gallaudet, and Hollins.
Up Next
The Phoenix will head on the road this weekend to take on the team that ended their season last year in Cairn. The two tied in the divisional semifinals 2-2, but it was the Highlanders that advanced to the championship on penalty kicks 6-5. With the new league format, this year's regular seasons showdown will be a non-conference game with kickoff set for 6 p.m. in Langhorne.
