Kiely Leads Trojans to Second MCC Victory
October 21, 2009
Junior Rachel Kiely scored her first two goals of the season on Wednesday to pace the Taylor women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Goshen College.
Taylor (6-9-1, 2-5 MCC) has now answered a five-game losing skid with two consecutive wins heading into the regular season finale on Saturday.
"It's like the weight of the world is off our shoulders," head coach Scott Stan said. "We've finally scored a few goals ourselves and it feels really good."
The Trojans have been plagued by scoring woes for much of the season including an eight-game span in which they netted just four goals for a 1-6-1 record. TU has now connected on three shot attempts in the last two outings which have both ended in conference victories.
Taylor possessed and passed the ball nicely controlling much of the first half vs. Goshen. Past the midway point in the first stanza Emily Von Raesfeld played a perfect ball to Kiely who dropped a left-footed volley over the Maple Leafs' goalkeeper to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Trailing by a tick, Goshen came out fast and physical in the second frame dominating the first 20 minutes of the second half. However, Taylor withstood the attack and Goshen's aggressiveness set up Kiely's second goal of the match on a direct kick from 22 yards out.
Kiely's shot sailed over a four-person Maple Leaf wall to give Taylor a 2-0 lead and the win.
The Trojans play host to the University of Saint Francis on Saturday in a 4 p.m. start. According to Stan, the Cougars are better than their 5-11 (3-3 MCC) record. "USF will be a very good team. They've played even a tougher schedule than we have."