Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas women's soccer team completed a perfect WHAC regular season (11-0) with a 2-0 win over Indiana Tech on Saturday (Oct. 29). The No. 15-ranked Saints (15-2-1) got a pair of goals from their top-two goal scorers
Sydney Shenk and
Hannah Crum to cap a perfect Senior Day.
Before the contest, AQ recognized 12 seniors for their contributions to the program: Crum, goalkeeper
Tairyn Webb, defender
Jayne Vredevoogd, midfielder
America Lemus, forward
Hannah Bowling, midfielder
Ariana Garcia, defender
Jenna Konwerski, defender
Merin McDermott, forward
Brittney Carter, forward
Saga Rydback, defender
Breanna Probst and team manager Grace Avery.
A symbolic opening kickoff to the match was taken by an injured McDermott standing on crutches before being subbed off for
Maeva Lichtensteiger.
The Saints were unable to score in the first half despite taking nine shots and putting five on target. Indiana Tech goalkeeper Michaela Bitle was up for the challenge. AQ freshman goalie
Kayla Shuk saw two shots (none on target) before getting subbed out to allow Webb to play the entire second half.
In the 61st minute, Aquinas finally broke the deadlock. Garcia slipped Shenk behind the Warriors' defense with a weighted pass. Shenk collected herself and slotted the ball to the far right corner. It was Shenk's eighth goal of the season. Crum doubled the Saints' advantage in the 74th minute by sneaking the ball through a defenders' legs and into the back of the net. It was her team-leading 12th goal of the season.
The Saints' defense shutdown Indiana Tech the rest of the way. Webb had to make two saves to preserve the shutout. It was the 13th clean sheet for AQ this season.
Aquinas will be the No. 1-seeded team in the upcoming WHAC Tournament. They Saints will play the No. 8-seeded team, which four teams tied for with eight points: Cornerstone, Indiana Tech, UM-Dearborn and Concordia. The tiebreaker has set to be decided by the conference at this time.
Regardless of who they play, the Saints will host the quarterfinals of the WHAC Tournament on Wednesday (Nov. 2). Game time is set for 6 p.m. at the AQ Athletic Field.
