Ames, Huisingh Power Cavs in Season Opener
ASHLAND, Ore.—Combing for four goals, juniors Ashley Ames (Liberty Lake, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Erin Huisingh (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana H.S.) paced the No. 5-ranked Concordia women's soccer team to a 5-1 victory in a neutral-site contest against Holy Names University on Friday.
Concordia will return to action on Saturday in a rare non-league counting contest against CCC foe Oregon Tech. Kickoff is set for noon against the Owls, who will be making their season debut in the match.
Despite the final outcome, the Cavaliers got off to a slow start in their season opener, allowing a goal to HNU's Catherine Carter on the team's second shot of the game. Moments after Hawks' Aylssa Flores connected on the team's first attempt, Carter positioned herself inside the box and headed the ball into the net to stun the CU defense in the 16th minute of action.
The Cavs soon found the equalizer, however, as Ariel Kanable (Beaverton, Ore./Southridge H.S.) deposited a penalty kick in the 23rd minute of play. Outshooting the Hawks 13-4 in the first half, Concordia created the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute on an Ames' strike from 15 yards.
"It was certainly a disappointing start as we had high-quality chances and then allowed them to finish the one chance they had," CU head coach Grant Landy said. "Our response was good and getting ahead at the half was ideal, but we will have to address those early minutes."
Huisingh quickly put the game out of reach with a pair of goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half. Hannah Scott (Milwaukie, Ore./Milwaukie H.S.) received credit for an assist on both plays while Hannah Kimsey (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River H.S.) joined Scott with an assist on the second Huisingh follow-through.
Ames, whose first goal went on to become her first career game-winner, came back to close out the scoring with an unassisted 17-yarder in the 71st minute. The two-goal performances were the first for both players and the first by a Cavalier since Scott and Alicia Alarcon-Evans (Portland, Ore./Sunset H.S.) each accomplished the feat in an 8-0 romp over Evergreen on Oct. 28 of last year.
Freshman keeper Olivia Brock (Olympia, Wash./Olympia H.S.) picked up her first career win in the outing while sophomore Nicole Franklin (Hillsboro, Ore./Century H.S.) closed out the second half with 45 minutes of scoreless netminding. Concordia finished with a 30-6 advantage in total shots and 5-0 edge in corner kicks.
"We were much cleaner in the second half. We scored some nice goals and had good combination play," Landy said. "I thought our new players did really well. We have a deep roster and I hope a hallmark of the team will be that everyone can make a difference. We will need everyone to contribute as the season rolls along, especially when the challenge is to produce on back-to-backs days like we will be facing tomorrow."