Grace Blows By No. 4 Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The first major test of the year was passed with flying colors by Grace's women's soccer team on Saturday.

The Lancers traveled to No. 4 Columbia and served up a convincing 4-0 victory.

Grace scored two goals in each half to continue its furious start to the season. Cassidy Felger earned headlines with two goals and an assist to power Grace's high-octane offense.

For the year, the Lancers (4-0) have outscored opponents 24-0. Grace leads the NAIA in goals, assists and points while yet to surrender a goal on defense.

The first half was a midfield battle as the teams gained comfort against each other. As the first half progressed, the Lancers' imprint on the game began to strengthen.

Grace's possession style kept the Cougars on defense, and the Lancers moved the ball consistently into Columbia's end of the field.

Grace had a number of threatening crosses and had the only five shot attempts for the first 20 minutes of the match. Rylee Burns had two of Grace's early shots, and Nora Pollock had an attempt roll wide of the net.

Burns provided a moment of brilliance midway into the half. She used her speed to blister by a defender on the sideline, stealing the ball and racing into the penalty box. She slotted her shot well, but the Cougars' goalkeeper made a sharp kick-save to keep the match scoreless.

Grace's pressure eventually broke through the Cougars' defense with two lightning-quick goals. Grace was fouled near midfield, and Zoe Mueller sent a cross into the heart of the box. The ball skipped over a defender and connected with Burns, who chipped her shot above the goalkeeper's head and perfectly into the back of the net.

Grace nearly scored again shortly after the restart, but Ellie Grieser's shot was stopped by another kicked save.

Less than two minutes later, Grace's lead doubled. Nora Pollock showcased her vision, leading Cassidy Felger on a run behind the Cougars' defense. Felger was all alone with the goalkeeper and calmly put her shot inside the goalpost for another goal.

The Lancers nearly had a third goal in the half, but Felger's shot hit the crossbar.

Grace took a confident 2-0 lead into halftime. The Lancers outshot Columbia 8-2 in the half, and Columbia had all three corner kicks.

The Lancers resumed control of the match in the second half. Grace needed just eight minutes to find a third goal. Felger alertly intercepted a pass and ran into the Cougars' end of the field. She paused on the right side and picked out Rosalie Geforer with a pass. Gefrorer then blasted her shot on the first touch beneath the crossbar, stunning the Cougars and handing Grace a 3-0 lead.

Grace's onslaught continued with a fourth goal in the 76th minute. Abby Hodkin drove with the ball toward the top edge of the penalty box. She then led Felger with a pass toward goal, and Felger pushed her second goal by the keeper.

Grace scored twice on four shots in the second half. The Lancers finished the match with a 12-3 advantage in shots. Grace did not have a corner kick while Columbia had five.

Ivy Cline recorded two saves in her 90 minutes as goalkeeper to collect the shutout.

Felger has scored exactly two goals in every game this year.

The Lancers have two matches scheduled next week, playing at Rio Grande on Wednesday before hosting St. Ambrose (receiving votes in NAIA) on Saturday at 5 p.m. at 1st Source Bank Field.