Waldorf silences Grace in fourth shutout win
By Waldorf Sports Information Director
OMAHA, Nebraska – The Waldorf University women’s soccer team continued its solid play with a 2-0 victory over Grace University on Saturday.
Chelsea Delgado and Brittney Thornton scored goals to propel the Warriors (4-7-1) to their fourth shutout win.
The victory marked Waldorf’s fourth straight shutout, which sets a new school record for consecutive shutouts. With five shutouts on the season, the Warriors are tied for third in school history.
Thornton, who also provided an assist, notched her 26th point of the year to eclipse her previous school single-season record of 25 points from the 2013 season. With 12 goals this season, the senior forward from Denver matched her 2013 total and trails only Heather Collins’ 15-goal performance from 2006.
Waldorf goalkeeper Hanna DeVries collected six saves as she stopped all six shots she faced to record her fourth shutout of the season. The junior from Albert Lea, Minn. was selected as the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday and has a 3-0-1 record in net.
With four clean sheets this year, DeVries is tied for second among Waldorf’s single-season and career shutout leaders. While earning the win, she also broke the school’s consecutive shutout minutes record as she has now held opponents scoreless for 385 minutes, 23 seconds. Kaylee Vitale owned the previous mark, putting together a span of 327:46 without allowing a goal in 2013.
Bethany Loux finished with 17 saves for the Royals (0-13) while working against 15 shots.
The Warriors brought a fierce attack from the start, firing 19 shots in the first half and 21 shots during the final 45 minutes of play. They outshot Grace by a commanding 40-7 margin and put 20 shots on goal.
Delgado connected for the first goal of the match as the junior forward from Renton, Wash. scored off an assist from Thornton in the 30th minute. The assist moved Thornton into a fifth-place tie among Waldorf’s career leaders with seven assists.
Thornton delivered the final dagger, finding the back of the net in the 56th minute. Junior Leah Eckenrode was credited with the assist.
Thornton led the Warriors with five shots on goal and Delgado registered four shots on target. SeniorCharlotte Madrid turned in three shots on goal, senior Mia Crail and sophomore Chloe Schmaltz each finished with two shots on frame while senior Laura Moore, freshmen Amanda Ferrell, Kiarra Houstonand Emma Hjerpe contributed shots on goal.
Waldorf has won three of its last four outings. The Warriors own an 0-0-1 record in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) standings and return to conference play next Saturday against the University of Jamestown (8-5, 0-1) in a 12 p.m. match up at Jamestown, North Dakota.