AU Soccer Teams Win at Findlay
November 9, 2002

Orange barrels on the highway can cause delays and frustration. The orange the Ashland University soccer teams saw on Saturday (Nov. 9), the orange of the Findlay Oilers, aimed to do the same thing.

On this Saturday, however, there would be no detours for the Eagles. The AU women locked up first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 3-1 win over the Oilers. The Eagle men prevailed, 3-0 in their final match of the season. The GLIAC crown is the sixth straight for the Eagle women.

The AU women are 11-1-2 and have a 12-match unbeaten streak. They will close out regular season play Sunday (Nov. 10) at Wheeling Jesuit. That match will help determine the NCAA Division II playoff field. The Eagles are expected to be included in that list of teams. The AU women have made five consecutive trips to the postseason.

AU’s first goal came at 2:44. Freshman Kristen Hitchman scored her sixth goal of the year from 20 yards out. At 65:57, the lead swelled to 2-0 on freshman Maria Manzo’s ninth goal of the year. Manzo is the team leader in goals (nine) and points (19).

Findlay’s Molly Monter slipped a shot past AU keeper Patti Cooke at 75:22 and the Eagles retaliated at 84:28 on Hitchman’s second goal of the match.

Ashland enjoyed a 16-4 edge in shots and led in corner kicks, 8-4. Cooke had one save.

The loss dropped Findlay to 7-7-3, 3-4-2 in the GLIAC.

In the men’s match, senior Matt Rahe opened the scoring at 56:59 with his first goal of the season. At 66:04, freshman Dan Jones scored his third goal of the season on an assist from senior Adam Kasel. Senior Brad Stinson closed out the scoring with his third goal of the campaign at 71:24. Rahe picked up his fourth assist of the year on the play.

The home team led in shots, 12-11 and enjoyed a 6-2 spread in corner kicks. AU head coach John Hall used both senior Bayard Elfvin and freshman Charles Curren in goal. Elfvin played 81 minutes and had all three of the Eagles’ saves.

The win gives Ashland a final record of 10-5-2, 3-1-2 in the GLIAC. Findlay is 8-5-4.