First half offensive onslaught lead Lady Pioneers past Rio Grande 5-1
Cardwell scores twice has one assist in the win

Sept. 16, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's soccer team was not happy with the way it played in its last outing at Wooster, and on Saturday, Rio Grande and head coach Amber Oliver — a 2002 graduate of MC — had that frustration taken out on them, as the Pioneers rolled to a 5-1 victory.

The Pioneers (3-2-2) looked as if it would be in for another dogfight, as the Redwomen took a 1-0 lead just over four minutes into the contest.

It was all Marietta from there, however, has it scored five unanswered goals and completely dominated the remained of the game.

Junior Colby Cardwell (Anchorage, AK/Robert Service) tied the game with her first goal of the season in the 27th minute, when she received a pass at the 6 from sophomore Allie Williams (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), turned and fired it past the keeper.

Cardwell broke the 1-1 tie 50 seconds later with an unassisted goal that found an opening in the top right of the goal.

Sophomore Britney Backus (Columbus/Hilliard Darby) scored Marietta's third goal of the game in the 31st minute, when she took a pass from teammate Jessica Martinez (Strongsville/Magnificat) inside the six and blasted it into the right side of the net.

Martinez, a sophomore, capped off the first-half scoring with an unassisted goal in the 35th minute, also converting from inside the 6. It was her third goal of the year.

Cardwell got back into the scoring action in the 48th minute, but this time she assisted junior Kileen Lehman (Elyria/Elyria Catholic) on a goal, a header that was her first of the year.

Marietta finished the game with 21 shots on goal, while Rio Grande had just two.

Freshman Jenna Freeman (Bay Village) picked up the win, working the first half and making one save, before giving way to Beth Gasaway (Fairborn), who worked a scoreless half in her first varsity action at the college level.

The Pioneers return to action Tuesday (Sept. 19), when they visit Oberlin for a 4:30 p.m. non conference game.