Matthew Scores Four Times in Rout of Trojans
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–Anna Matthew (Fr., Glendale Heights, Ill., Biology) joined an exclusive club Saturday as she helped the Statesmen women’s soccer team to a 5-1 win over Hannibal-LaGrange in non-conference play.
Matthew recorded four of her team’s goals as William Penn (3-0-1) remained undefeated this year. She is just the sixth player in program history to post four tallies and the first since Kelli Crooks did so in 2002. The freshman was one score shy of the school record of five.
The matchup was originally scheduled to be played in Missouri, but all fields in Hannibal were unplayable due to the heavy rain the area received this week. Still desiring to play, the schools agreed to move the game to Oskaloosa where the Statesmen’s practice field was in good enough shape to hold the contest.
Both squads entered the meeting with numerous individuals sidelined by injury, but Matthew was healthy, willing, and able to assist in the navy and gold’s cause.
Overall, WPU outshot H-LG (0-4) just 22-17, including an 11-8 mark in the first half. Despite all of the chances, only one attempt found the netting prior to halftime.
Matthew put the first goal away in the 40th minute with the assist credited to Brittney Severson (Fr., Omaha, Neb., Biology).
With the proverbial bottle uncorked, the Statesmen found scoring much easier in the latter stanza, beginning with Matthew scoring off a pass from Raunice Butler (Sr., Nassau, Bahamas, Physical Education) at the 49:32 mark.
Less than six minutes later, she eclipsed the hat trick mark with Butler again assisting.
The Trojans finally snuck one in at the 61:49 juncture, but the advantage once again grew to three in the 65th minute as Matthew capped her day by finishing a delivery from Isabella Pirami (Fr., Salt Lake City, Utah).
Matthew now has a team-best eight goals this fall. Butler is up to three assists, while Pirami’s helper is the first of her collegiate career.
Severson added a goal (her first in college play) to her first-half assist, scoring on a pass from Hannah Baker (Sr., Adelaide, Australia, Biology) in the 74th minute. Both individuals have one assist this year.
Adyson Blom (Fr., Newton, Iowa, Human Services and Sociology) produced five saves in the victory, while Alexandra Benedict (Sr., Tustin, Calif., Sports Management) added two more stops in relief.
“This was another nice win for our team,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “A few bits of individual brilliance helped us score some good goals. We made it hard work at times, but we move forward in the season. A big thank you to the game day staff for getting everything ready so we could play on our practice field and not have to cancel.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Davenport next Wednesday to face St. Ambrose in a non-conference game at 7:30 p.m.
