Waterbury, Conn. – A hat trick from sophomore
Katharina Mertz (Buxtehude, Germany) was more than enough as the Post University women's soccer team defeated Chestnut Hill, 5-0 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at LaMoy Field on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Eagles move to 3-3 on the season and 3-0 in the CACC. They have also won three straight games.
Post's offense looked strong early as senior
Lexxi Carroll (Plainville, Conn.) just missed wide with a shot within the first 25 seconds of the match.
The Eagles would continue to pressure the Chestnut Hill defense and finally broke through with a little help from Chestnut Hill as junior
Sylvia Yanez (West Haven, Conn.) hit a cross that was knocked in by a Griffins' player to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead in the 11
th minute.
Post would score a goal off of a foot of their own player in the 27
th minute, as senior
Valerie Moore (Bloomfield, Conn.) hit a missile from 35 yards out that went off the fingers of goalkeeper Kayla Reno to give Post the 2-0 lead.
Mertz got her big day going in the 31
st minute as she put in a free kick from 20 yards out past the Chestnut Hill wall and Reno for the 3-0 lead.
In the 57
th minute, sophomore
Angela Ciaramella (Hamden, Conn.) had a chance to score a goal of her own, but her shot hit the left post. However, Mertz was there to clean it up and easily put it in the net to give the Eagles the 4-0 lead and her second goal of the game.
Mertz would score her final goal in the 66
th minute on a penalty kick after freshman Jen van Alphan (Hudson, N.Y.) was fouled inside the box.
It was the play of Carroll and Mertz that really got the attention of coach
Matt Micros. "Obviously, you don't replace Renel [Dennis] and Tessa [Dunster's] scoring, you just need to reinvent yourself a bit. We might not be as explosive as last year, but we have been very solid defensively and do a nice job of keeping the ball offensively," Micros said. "Lexxi and Katharina are as good as any central midfielders in the league. They make for a dynamic pair."
The Eagles were dominant throughout, out shooting Chestnut Hill, 17-2.
Coach Micros was happy with the effort of the team. "I thought it was a terrific team effort against an always solid Chestnut Hill team," Micros said. "We are working to gain some consistency."
Up next for the Eagles is the beginning of a difficult three-game road trip as they take on Caldwell on September 23 at 4 p.m.
