Redhawks Rout Red Wolves, 7-0 in Home Exhibition :: Senior Casey Kraft recorded two goals and one assist against Arkansas State

Aug. 15, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008) - The Redhawks soccer team appeared to be hitting on all cylinders on Friday evening as they trounced regional rival Arkansas State, 7-0 in their second exhibition game of the preseason at Houck Field. The offense highlighted the game as the Redhawks scored two goals in each of the first two periods and three goals in the final stanza.

Senior Casey Kraft led the way and has showed that she is completely recovered from a bothersome knee injury that hampered her last season. She scored the team's first two goals of the game and added an assist to give her seven points during the Redhawks preseason campaign.

After both teams played the opening 15 minutes cautiously the Redhawks picked up the offensive pressure. Freshman Nikki Edwards found a streaking Kraft inside the box and Kraft beat Red Wolves goalie Megan Stoltzfus with a laser into the bottom right corner for the game's first goal.

11 minutes later Kraft would strike again as she tracked down a free ball at midfield and beat two Red Wolves defenders and let loose a shot from 25-yards out into the upper right corner over the outstretch arm of Stoltzfus to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.

The second period started slow again for the Redhawks but 13 minutes into the period the Redhawks found themselves with a corner kick. Senior Nicole Bussman lifted a high bender into the box that bounced off a few defenders and found itself on the foot of freshman Shona Goodwin who promptly placed the it in the corner for her first goal of the preseaason.

Casey Kraft scored two goals against the Red Wolves

A minute later senior Megan McGrath launched a pass from Bussman into the back of the net for the second goal of the period and a 4-0 advantage.

The third period became the Ashley Runion show as last year's OVC Newcomer of the Year scored a pair of goals within three minutes of each other. Her first goal came courtesy of a Kraft pass at the 62:43 mark. Runion struck again at 66:11 off a beautiful cross from Lauren Lacopo to put the Redhawks up 6-0.

Newcomer Mabel Velarde put the finishing touches as she corralled a pass from Lacopo, beat a charging Stoltzfus in the box and finished off the play with a tap into the empty net at 78:23.

Kraft finished with a team-high five shots and Runion recorded a team-high three shots on goal.

Rachel Harrington started the game in goal and played the third period sharing the shutout with Jessica Beckham. Each goalie recorded one save.

The Redhawks outshot the Red Wolves 15-7 including 9-2 on goal. The Red Wolves held the advantage in corner kicks 6-3.

Michelle Clark led the Red Wolves with two shots. Stoltzfus played all 90 minutes in goal recording two saves.

The Redhawks conclude the exhibition season on Sunday as they host the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7:00 p.m.