senior Madeline Weltin scored two goals in the first half to lead Canisius to a 5-0 victory over Binghamton in intercollegiate women’s soccer Thursday at Demske Sports Complex.
The Golden Griffins open their 2024 season with a win, while Thursday’s setback dropped the Bearcats to 1-1-0 in the young season.
Canisius took control of the game from the start and scored three goals in the first 15 minutes of the game. Junior Lizzy Harkness put the Griffs on the scoreboard in the fifth minute when she touched a free kick from a sophomore with her foot Jessica Whitaker that went past Binghamton goalkeeper Rebecca Kessler.
Weltin followed Harkness’ opening goal with two goals in a span of 5:43 minutes to extend Canisius’ lead to 3-0. The Lombard, Illinois native scored her first goal of the game at 8:11 minutes, when she headed in a cross from Senior Erin Weir this was also supported by Junior Emma Oliphant.
Weltin scored her first goal shortly afterwards to make it 3-0, collecting a loose ball that arose when Junior Skylar Cornell forced a turnover deep in the Bearcats’ half of the court and shot the ball into the Bearcats’ goal from outside the penalty box.
Canisius extended its lead in the opening minutes of the second half when Cornell was fouled in the penalty area, leading to a penalty goal by Senior Alicia Zamora to give the Griffs a 4-0 lead.
Weir finished the scoring in the 64th minute when she scored her first career goal after a scrum with Bearcats defenders on a pass from Cornell.
Experienced goalkeeper Jordan Spencer started in goal for the Griffs and stopped three shots, recording her tenth career shutout.
GAME NOTES
• Thursday’s game was the ninth meeting between the two teams. The Griffs picked up their second series win with the Bearcats with Thursday’s victory.
• Canisius scored five or more goals in a game for the first time since the 2015 season, when it set a program record for most goals scored in a 16-1 victory over Hampton on Aug. 21, 2015.
• The five goals are the most during a Griffs game in the Ryan Louis epoch
• Weir scored her first collegiate goal on Thursday, while Zamora scored her first goal as a Griffin.
• First semester Azaria Fagan, Meghan Joerger, Julia B. and in the second year of study Mary Molloy all made their Canisius debut
• The Griffs had more shots on goal overall than the Bearcats (17-5), with a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
Next
Canisius returns to action on Aug. 29 when it hosts Youngstown State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Demske Sports Complex. The game is part of a soccer doubleheader that will see the Canisius men’s team host Little Three rival St. Bonaventure at 6 p.m.
