Grand Rapids, Mich. — Two goals within the first four minutes had the No. 7-ranked Aquinas women's soccer team buzzing on homecoming Saturday (Sept. 16) at the AQ Athletic Field. The Grace Lancers, however, got their footing and kept the contest from becoming a complete blowout. The Saints (5-0-1 overall) only managed one more goal in the 88 minute to cap the final score at 3-0.

For 84 minutes of the 90 minute contest, the scoreboard read 2-0 in AQ's favor. 

Maeve Lichtensteiger got Aquinas off and running with the team's fastest goal to start a game this season. The build-up play from Sydney Shenk and Macy Hollingsworth allowed Lichtensteiger to sneak in behind and score just 43 seconds into the affair. It was her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Oddly enough, the first goal AQ scored in its last three games all came just after the half an hour mark. Aquinas took control early on Saturday in front of a lively crowd.

Just under three minutes later, Shenk finished off a Laia Cunill cross to double the Saints' advantage. Grace had possessed the ball for less than 30 seconds and were already looking up at two-goal deficit. AQ's pressing forwards were causing all sort of havoc for the Lancers to contend with.

After all the excitement in the opening minutes, the goals suddenly stopped. The Saints continued to press and create a handful of quality scoring chances, but none of them materialized to increase AQ's lead.

That said, the Saints didn't end up needing any more offense. AQ's defense was impenetrable, only allowing two shots. None of which hit the target. Aquinas ended up outshooting Grace 23-2 (14-0 shots on target).

Sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Shuk happily picked up her fourth shutout of the season — 17th of her career — without having to make a single save. It's the fifth time in Shuk's career where she earned a shutout without recording a save. Shuk needs one more shutout to break AQ's all-time career record currently held by a trio of former Saints: Braeleigh McCoy (2018-21), Kylie Rob (2016-18) and Kristina Gladstone (2005-07). All of them finished their time at AQ with 17 career shutouts.

AQ defenders Jess Graham, Olivia Bowling, Bridget Sherman, Avery Tack and Lauren Niblett all played a hand in keeping Shuk well-rested.

Freshman Madison Slezinski padded the final margin with her second goal of the season coming with 2:20 remaining in regulation. Cunill picked up her second assist of the game and now leads the team with four assists on the year.

Aquinas finishes non-conference play undefeated (5-0-1) and enters conference play next Saturday (Sept. 23) at home against Concordia. The Saints haven't lost a WHAC regular season game since Oct. 5, 2019. Since then, AQ has racked up a 38-0-1 record against conference foes during the regular season over the past four years.

The Saints look to keep that streak alive against Concordia, a team they have beat the last six times they have faced them. The Cardinals are winless to start this season (0-7).