Storm surge past Bluejays with six goals

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Three players tallied a goal and an assist, two others recorded their first collegiate goals, and the Simpson College women's soccer team surged past Westminster 6-1 in its final nonconference contest of the season.

The Storm (7-0-3) scored two goals in the opening four minutes and stretched their lead to four at intermission behind two more goals in the 19th and 26th minutes. Simpson went ahead 5-0 just over 10 minutes into the second half and capped off the scoring frenzy with a goal in the 69th minute.

The win extends the Storm's unbeaten streak at home to 16 games and marks the first time in program history Simpson has been undefeated through 10 games.

GOAL SUMMARY

• For the second home game in a row, Cassie Nash scored within the first two minutes of the game. Her first shot of the night deflected off the Blujays' goalie back to her before she hooked it into the upper right corner for the early 1-0 lead.
• Nash raced past a couple defenders a few minutes later and passed a ball perfectly in front of the net for Hailey Kowzan to finish and double the lead.
• Anna Eide was the next to score as she took a pass from Ally Hoffa and chipped it over the keeper from the top of the box.
• Savannah Schneider collected her first goal of the season off a sharp cross from the right side by Kowzan, and Simpson carried that 4-0 lead into halftime.
• Hoffa put the Storm's fifth goal on the board in the 58th minute, sneaking a shot under the crossbar after passes from Nash and Avery Plathe.
• The Bluejays (3-5-1) scored off a free kick by Annalise Beck shortly after to prevent the shutout.
• Georgia Paulson joined her freshman teammate Schneider in the scoring, capitalizing on a deflection off a corner kick for her first career goal.

TOP STORM

• Hailey Kowzan: 1 goal (gamewinner), 1 assist
• Cassie Nash: 1 goal, 2 assists
• Ally Hoffa: 1 goal, 1 assist
• Anna Eide: 1 goal
• Savannah Schneider: 1 goal
• Georgia Paulson: 1 goal
• Avery Plathe: 1 assist
• Mya Jansen: 1 assist

NOTES

• The Storm took 30 shots for the second game in a row and added 10 corner kicks to their season total, which ranked 12th in Division III coming into the game.
• The Storm have found the back of the net first in all but one contest this season, which was a scoreless draw.
• Simpson has scored at least two goals in every game this season except its scoreless tie on Sept. 3. This was Simpson's largest scoring output of the season.
• Ten different players have scored for the Storm this season, with Savannah Schneider and Georgia Paulson picking up their first goals tonight.
• Reigning A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week Cassie Nash has recorded at least one point in all but one game this season.
• Hailey Kowzan and Nash have teamed up to score 18 goals throughout their careers at Simpson. Kowzan has assisted Nash on 14 career goals, while Nash has returned the favor four times.
• Meredith Downs remains undefeated through 18 career starts, boasting a record of 14-0-4 with six solo shutouts and two combined clean sheets. She ranks ninth all-time in career wins.
• The win extends Simpson's unbeaten streak at home to 16 games dating back to Oct. 22, 2022.
• This is the first time in program history Simpson has been undefeated through 10 games. The Storm have not faced a deficit in 2024.
• Simpson improves to 6-3-0 in the head-to-head series with Westminster, winning the last three matchups.

UP NEXT
Simpson has a week off to prepare for its next A-R-C contest taking place on Oct. 9 against Luther. The Storm will then return home to host Buena Vista on Homecoming Saturday.