Women's Soccer Routs Kenyon in NCAC Semifinals

The Denison Big Red women's soccer team advanced to the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament as the #4 seed but they played more like the top seed on Wednesday as they routed #1 Kenyon, 6-0 to advance to the NCAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The weather conditions were harsh, with cold rain and hail peppering the playing field, however, over the last few seasons the Big Red begins hitting their stride come November. Today did nothing to dispute that claim as the pounced on Kenyon in the opening minutes only to enter halftime with a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore Sarah Ash (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) started the scoring barrage in the 15th minute when she scored off an assist headed by freshman Julie Dean (Hamilton, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame). Ash would answer the call 20 minutes later when she beat Kenyon goalkeeper Rosie Davis following a Big Red corner kick attempt. The goal was Ash's eight of the season. In the 32nd minute junior Kim Cochran (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) found freshman Katie Eckenhoff (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) off a set piece for the team's third goal of the contest. Eight minutes later junior Laryn Kovalik (Allison Park, Pa./Shady Side Academy) scored off an assist by Ash.

Just two minutes into the second half the Denison offense continued to pile on the offense when freshman Anna Rusch (Washington, D.C./Sidwell Friends) scored via an unassisted shot from just inside the 18-yard box. The Denison scoring parade came to an end in the 76th minute when Laruen Going (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) scored her eighth goal of the season by taking possession of a loose ball in the box and booting it past Davis to set the final score at 6-0. Denison took 20 shots on the afternoon and put 15 of those shots on goal, forcing Kenyon's netminder to make nine saves. Kenyon took 10 shots and Big Red goalkeepers Liz Gillette (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) and Courtney Cobb (Sylvania, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) combined for six saves. Gillette started for DU and played 56 minutes. Cobb played the remaining 34 minutes and stopped two Kenyon scoring attempts.

Denison (14-3-1) will advance to the NCAC Championship game and will travel to Springfield, Ohio to face the #2 seed, Wittenberg Tigers at 7 p.m. PICTURED: Sarah Ash