First half surge sends RedStorm women past Eagles

Rio Grande Sports Information
     MIDWAY, Ky. - The University of Rio Grande spotted host Midway University an early lead, then went about the process of clipping the Eagles' wings.
     Jitske De Muijnk score one goal and assisted on three others as the RedStorm cruised to a 5-2 victory, Thursday afternoon, at Midway University Stadium.
     Rio Grande improved to 8-4-2 overall and 5-0-2 in conference play, running its unbeaten streak to seven straight outings in the process.
     Midway suffered a third straight loss, dropping to 5-8-1 overall and 1-4-1 in the RSC.
     The Eagles actually struck first when Jameela Shalash scored off of a corner kick by Anna Kneisley with just 4:02 off the clock.
     Rio Grande got the equalizer just over 16-1/2 minutes later when sophomore Amora Albano (Albany, OH) scored unassisted and then quickly added three more markers in just under three minutes of playing time to take control.
     The first two goals in the run - by junior Sara Estrada Fernandez (Barcelona, Spain) with 17:22 left before halftime and by junior Saskia Vos (Sydney, Australia) with 15:02 remaining before the intermission - both came off of corner kick opportunities by De Muijnk.
     De Muijnk, a junior from Nymegen, The Netherlands, had a score of her own - off of a touch by sophomore Morgan Fannin (Circleville, OH) - to give the RedStorm a 4-1 advantage at the intermission.
     Senior Charlotte Pilgrim (Middlesbrough, England) netted her first goal of the season of De Muijnk's final assist with 23:18 left to play, while the Eagles netted the final marker of the day with justy 1:01 remaining when Kneisley scored off an assist by Kylie Hudgins.
     Rio Grande enjoyed a 23-11 shot advantage for the day, including 14-6 in shots on goal.
     Both teams had six corner chances.
     Senior Alba Vilades Marin (Barcelona, Spain) went the distance in goal for the RedStorm and had four saves.
     Caylee Thompson went the first 69:18 of the match in net for Midway, allowing all five Rio goals and recording six saves.
     Ellis Kerns had three saves over the final 20:42 for the Eagles.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Saturday with a neutral site, non-conference affair against Georgia Gwinnett College at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky.
     Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.