The Aquinas women's soccer team got off to a great start to the new season on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 10), shutting out a tough WHAC opponent with a 3-0 victory over Madonna. AQ and the Crusaders met indoors at the Legacy Center in Brighton, with the Saints taking a 1-0 halftime lead and adding two insurance goals in a two-minute span in the second half.

It was AQ's first game in 445 days, having last seen the field on Nov. 23, 2019 in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. The Saints are 1-0 in 2021, while Madonna falls to 0-1. Aquinas and the Crusaders were chosen second and third, respectively, in the 2021 WHAC Preseason Poll, making for quite a season-opening matchup between the two schools.

Things were pretty quiet in the opening half until Hannah Crum netted the season's opening goal at the 25:58 mark, flipping the ball over the Madonna goalkeeper's head for the early 1-0 lead. The Saints outshot MU by a 9-5 count in the opening 45 minutes.

AQ kept pressuring the Crusader defense early in the second half and came through with two quick goals to take control. Laia Cunill doubled the Saints lead at the 61:41 mark with the first goal of her collegiate career. Two minutes later, Abby Frankhouse found the back of the net at the 63:53 mark of the half, giving the Saints a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Braeleigh McCoy and AQ made that lead stand up and recorded a clean sheet, as she tallied five saves in the shutout victory.

Overall, Aquinas led in shots (21-13) and shots on goal (9-5). Madonna held a 5-3 edge in corners and committed nine of the game's 13 fouls. Crum and Sydney Shenk each attempted four shots, with Crum placing three shots on goal. Macy Hollingsworth totaled three shots, while Filippa Struxsjo and Katelyn Kahael both recorded a pair of shots.

The Saints are off for 10 days, as AQ next takes the game field on Feb. 20 against Indiana Wesleyan at Grand Park in Indianapolis.