From Washington University Athletics
Junior Abby Starker had a goal and an assist to lead the No. 4 ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team to a season-opening 2-0 win at St. Olaf College Friday afternoon in Northfield, Minn.
Starker, who missed all but one game as a sophomore, broke a scoreless tie in the 38th minute with the first game-winning goal of her career. The goal for Starker was also the second of her career and first since the 2012 season.
"We played really well as a team today and pressured everything," said Starker. "The defense played great and locked down every opportunity."
Washington U. outshot St. Olaf 29-8 and had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy Crist made her second-career start and picked up four saves in the win. The shutout for Crist was the first of her career.
WUSTL dominated the first half of play keeping the ball in the St. Olaf half of field most of the opening 45 minutes of play. The Bears recorded the first four shots of the game, and finally found at net at 37:43 mark after senior Lillie Toaspern beat the Ole defense and fed Starker who fired a 20-yard shot to the near corner.
The Bears outshot St. Olaf 10-3 in the first half and had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Washington U. continued to put the pressure on the Oles in the second half, and Toaspern nearly made it 2-0 in the 54th minute when her shot was redirected by the St. Olaf goalkeeper Ruth Hesse off the near post. In the 59th minute, Toaspern got another good look but her shot was saved out of bounds by Hesse to force a corner kick.
Junior Anna Sippel pushed the advantage to 2-0 in the 69th minute after her shot from the far right side snuck into the near corner. Starker picked up the assist on the goal as the sent a pass out wide to Sippel. The goal was Sippel's sixth of her career.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. is 5-2 in season openers under head coach Jim Conlon … The Bears have a 16-game unbeaten streak dating back to last season … Washington U. is 3-1 all-time against St. Olaf … The win for Conlon was his 197th of his women's college coaching career, three shy of 200.