Lady Pioneers capture Fall Invitational title for the third straight season
Junior defender Jennifer Wickerham named Tournament MVP

Sept. 10, 2006
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Marietta College women's soccer team continued its dominance at Penn State-Altoona's Fall Invitational by capturing the title for the third consecutive season. For the first time, however, the host Lions were the victim in the championship game, as Marietta won 1-0.

The Pioneers (2-1-2) used its defense to keep the Lions (1-1) off balanced all afternoon and got just enough offense to clinch the victory.

Sophomore Jessica Martinez (Strongsville/Magnificat), who moved into the middle to replace an injured Jill Sorboro (Cuyahoga Falls), supplied the lone goal in the 27th minute, when she took a pass from sophomore Allie Williams (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) just inside the halfway line, turned, moved forward through the open area and blasted a shot from over 30 yards out that found the back of the net. The goal was Martinez's second of the season and she earned All-Tournament Team for her efforts over the weekend.

Martinez's goal was enough for freshman goalkeeper and All-Tournament Team honoree Jenna Freeman (Bay Village), who made five saves in the shutout victory, her third straight of the year.

The Pioneers out shot the Lions 25-8 (10-to-5 in shots on goal).

Junior forward Vanessa Nicholls (Cornwall, ONT, Canada) joined Wickerham, Freeman and Martinez on the All-Tournament Team.

Marietta will return to action on Wednesday (Sept. 13), when it visits Wooster for a 5 p.m. non conference match-up.