MOUNT PLEASANT – Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College scored four times in the first half and made it hold up, knocking off the Iowa Wesleyan College women’s soccer team 4-1 in the Tigers’ 2008 season opener at East Lake Park on Saturday.
The Trojans were opportunistic in the first half of the match, scoring on four of their first five shots on goal, including twice after corner kicks. The visitors scored several of their goals off deflections just off the hands of IWC starting goalkeeper Karly York (Jr.-Waukee, Iowa) and improved to 2-0 on the season.
Noella Bigirimana opened the scoring in the ninth minute by directing in a corner kick from Alysa Askew. Jasman Edmond scored in the 18th minute, and Mikayla Christiansen and Amber Hedrick then both scored in the final minutes of the first half to make it 4-0 at the intermission.
IWC played much better in the second half, out-shooting the Trojans 6-3 over the final 45 minutes. The Tigers got their goal in the 55th minute when Eleni Nikols (Fr.-Elmwood Park, Ill.) scored off an assist from Jessica Ryan (So.-Burlington, Iowa).
Cara Arnold (Fr.-Davis Junction, Ill.) played the second half in goal for the Tigers and made one save. Nikols and Ryan both led IWC in shots with three each, while Jacki Isham (Fr.-Stillman Valley, Ill.) added two shots. Both teams took 10 shots apiece, while HLG had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.
The Tigers continue non-conference play on Wednesday, hosting Cornell College at 3 pm at East Lake Park.
For more information regarding the IWC soccer programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
