Women’s soccer: Freshmen lead Comets to record-breaking 9-0 win in season-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – Four freshmen played a key role in leading the Olivet College women's soccer team to a 9-0 shutout win over Alverno (Wis.) College in its season-opener tonight at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The nine goals are the most in a game since Sept. 16, 2008, when the Comets beat Finlandia University, 10-0, and overall ties for the fourth-most in a game.

For the game, Olivet recorded 17 total assists on its nine goals. The 17 assists and 35 points are both single-game school records. In addition, the 17 assists is tied for the 11th-most in a single-game in NCAA Division III women's soccer history.

Freshman Isabelle Leon recorded a hat trick in her collegiate debut, while fellow first-year player Emily Reinecke added four points (two goals and two assists). Freshmen Abigail Gaines and Dominique Giroux each had two points. Gaines had a goal and an assist, and Giroux had two assists.

Junior Jeanette Fisher and senior Nicole Borek filled the stat sheet with three and two assists, respectively. Junior Alexis Nichols collected one goal and two assists. The other two goals were one each for senior Brooke Leach and junior Lauren Vanderhoff. Junior Jordyn Mackool and sophomore Natalie Desautel collected one assist apiece.

Olivet got off to a fast start when Leon scored only two minutes and 31 seconds into the game. She added another goal in the 26th minute before Vanderhoff found the back of the net in the 31st minute. Reinecke closed the first half scoring with her first goal a little more than two minutes later.

Five different Comets scored in the second half. Leon completed her hat trick in the 53rd minute. Reinecke answered just 19 seconds later. Leach tallied her goal in the 65th minute, followed by Nichols in the 75th minute. Gaines capped the game's scoring with a goal in the 78th minute.

Junior Deanna Zolnoski provided the clean sheet in net. She faced only one shot, while playing all 90 minutes.

Olivet (1-0) is right back in action tomorrow afternoon when it hosts North Park (Ill.) University at 4 p.m. North Park fell to Albion College, 5-1, in its season-opener today at Alumni Field in Albion.