Submitted by: Mike Aycock

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Soccer Team rode a big first half performance against Franklin College to a 3-2 victory on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at home. Forced by injuries to play without two starters from previous games, Abby Schmitt and last year's MVP Jessica Black, the Woodsies still showed greater comfort with their new defense and the same possession and speed of play that helped them to a big win in their home opener. Getting into the attacking third 30 times in the first half and combining well off the feet of forwards Erin Pugh and Arrika Garcia, it was only a matter of time before the ball found the back of the Grizzlies' net. Arrika Garcia opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on an assist from freshman Katie Foglesong. In the 30th minute it was freshman Logan Jones, and in the 41st minute it was Arrika Garcia again, on an assist by Ashley Logan. The entire SMWC midfield, led by veteran Britt Simmerman, found some comfort slicing through the Grizzlies in the first half.

The second half found Franklin making an excellent effort to gain back some of the run of play and possession. They led that category by a tiny margin through a large part of the half and finally struck back on a cracking goal from Lauren Hawes, far out on the left. In the 81st minute, Natalie Downs scored a second goal for the Grizzlies, making it a tighter match than the Woodsies had come to expect at that point in the contest. But the SMWC Team showed great composure closing out the game, managing the ball, and playing every player that was able to play. Goalkeeper April Baranowski had her best performance to date, charging off her line to pick off every through ball the Grizzlies were able to angle behind the Woods defense.

The next opponent is a powerful Earlham Quakers squad, fresh off a 2-0 defeat of Rose-Hulman, that we will meet Saturday at home. This will be the SMWC Soccer Team's next big test, and they'll have to face it with the same players out of the lineup.