Statesmen hold off Warriors

By Aaron Schneider

OSKALOOSA – Despite being challenged the entire match, William Penn University held on to hand the Waldorf University women’s soccer team a 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

Graciela Belmontes scored the game-winning goal in the 61st minute to lift the Statesmen (2-1) past the Warriors (1-2). Francis Lee connected for a goal while Hannah Baker contributed two assists for William Penn.

Brittney Thornton delivered the lone goal for the Warriors and Charlotte Madrid provided an assist.

Junior Hanna DeVries started in goal for Waldorf and saved five of the six shots she faced.

Madrid served as goalkeeper in the second half and tallied seven saves against eight shots. The senior from Las Vegas ranks fourth in the Waldorf record books in career saves (100).

Adrian Borjon started as goalkeeper for the Statesmen and saved the only shot she faced. Andreya Ventura came in as goalie in the second half and recorded one save against two shots.

In a match that proved to be a defensive battle from the start, William Penn got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute as Lee found the back of the net off a pass from Baker.

Thornton, a senior forward from Denver, connected on the equalizer 46 minutes into the contest after being set up for the score by Madrid.

Belmontes sealed the game for the Statesmen, notching the go-ahead goal following a pass from Baker with 29 minutes remaining in the match.

William Penn brought an aggressive attack and outshot Waldorf, 34-9. Fourteen shots were on goal for the Statesmen while the Warriors recorded three shots on frame. Thornton registered two shots on target and freshman Tyler Ledford also had a shot on goal.

The Warriors host two matches this weekend. They entertain Culver-Stockton College (1-0-1) on Saturday in a 3 p.m. match up and close out the weekend on Sunday against NCAA Division III’s Nebraska Wesleyan University (0-0) in a 3 p.m. kickoff at Bolstorff Field.