September 30, 2018- Emporia State Soccer wrapped the weekend up with a 3-0 shutout win over Northwest Missouri in Maryville on Sunday. The Hornets advance to 7-2-1 on the season, 2-1-0 in the MIAA for the best start through ten games in program history.
The first half was full of defense for both teams as there were just 11 shots taken in the half and the score remained tied at 0-0. The Hornets came out in the second half as the early aggressor and fired 12 shots in the half while Northwest Missouri took only five in the half.
The Hornets first struck in the 77th minute when Tanna Benefiel scored on a penalty kick to take the 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Aislinn Hughes sent a shot into the back of the net to extend the Hornets lead to 2-0 81:48 into the match. Jacki Martinek capped scoring in the game just 39 seconds later when she sent an assist from Kennedy Hoffman into the back of the net in the 83rd minute of the match.
The back to back goals from Hughes and Martinek are the first goals scored within one minute of each other since Tanna Benefiel and Erica Self scored 51 seconds apart in a 3-2 loss to FHSU on September 17, 2017. They are also the fastest back to back goals by the Hornets since Shannon Thomas scored two goals just 35 seconds apart in a 6-1 win over Missouri Southern on October 27, 2013.
The Hornets were led by Jacki Martinek, Tanna Benefiel and Aislinn Hughes each with one goal in the match. Kennedy Hoffman had the lone assist for the Hornets. Chiara Soergel played all 90 minutes in goal for the Hornets, facing 11 shots with six saves.
The Hornets will be back in action on October 5th as they take on Missouri Southern in Emporia, Kan. at the ESU Pitch.
