Creighton University
5-0-0
Drake
2-4-0
Nokels Lifts Creighton Women's Soccer Past Drake, 4-3
9/7/2014 7:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - Senior Addison Nokels delivered the final blow to give the Creighton women's soccer a 4-3 win over Drake in a back-and-forth battle on Sunday, Sept. 7.
Nokels struck for her second goal of the season, coming in back-to-back matches, in the 85th minute to push Creighton to the win.
In claiming the victory the Bluejays equaled the best start in school history at 5-0-0, Creighton also got off to a 5-0-0 start in 1993. Drake, meanwhile, fell to 2-4-0.
Drake took an eary 1-0 lead as Generve Charles sent a pass from Ashlie Stokes past Creighton's Danielle Rice at the 8:50. The goal broke Rice's scoreless streak of 281:49.
Senior Angela Benson shook the Bluejays out of their funk in the 21st minute as she knotted the game at 1-1 with an unassisted goal from 35 yards out. Benson's efforts gave the Bluejays a skip in their step as Creighton controlled possession throughout the reminder of the first half.
That possession led to Creighton's second goal in the 39th minute as junior Anastasia McCleary connected on her first goal as a Bluejay by taking a feed from Nokels, then beating Drake keeper Kylynn Moyer in the for an empty net goal at 38:32.
Leading 2-1 at the half the Bluejays lost a step as the second period began with Drake regaining control of the ball in the opening 15 miuntes of period two. During that stretch the Bulldogs pulled even (55:12) on a goal from Rebecca Rodgers.
Deadlocked at 2-2, Creighton seized control as sophomore Ylenia Sachau took advantage of a direct kick following a Drake penalty for her second goal of the season in the 72nd minute. Sachau struck the ball from 22 yards into the back of the net.
Drake, however, refused to quit as the Bulldogs pulled even once more in the 84th minute (83:10) on a header from Rodgers off a pass by Kasey Hurt.
The Bulldog goal simply set the stage for Nokels and the Bluejays to pull out the win in the 86th minute. After a Creighton corner did not result in a shot, Benson regained possession and found Nokels along the left side of the box. Nokels responded by blasting the ball into the right side of the net for the 4-3 win.
Creighton was outshot 14-12 by the Bulldogs, while Drake also held the edge in corners 6-5.
The Bluejays return to action on Friday, Sept. 12 as Creighton begins a two-game road trip at North Dakota. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
The Bluejays return to action on Friday, Sept. 12 as Creighton begins a two-game road trip at North Dakota. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Charles, Generve (3)
Assisted By: Stokes, Ashlie
Shot from left side, 12 yards out
8:50
BENSON, Angela (1)
Unassisted from 30 yards
20:10
McCLEARY, Anastasia (1)
Assisted By: NOKELS, Addison
Unassisted, ball off defender
38:32
Rodgers, Rebecca (2)
Assisted By: Pritchard, Rhian
Lead pass from Pritchard to Rodgers
55:12
SACHAU, Ylenia (2)
Set Play from 22 yards off penalty
71:53
Rodgers, Rebecca (3)
Assisted By: Hurt, Kasey
Header by Rodgers,
83:10
NOKELS, Addison (2)
Assisted By: BENSON, Angela
Eight yards, left to right
85:49
