CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A hat trick by Campbellsville's Jessica Ralph and two more late goals Toria Alsap lifted their team past women's soccer, 5-0, Saturday evening in Mid-South competition. The Tigers (6-6-1, 4-2 MSC) took a late first half lead when they beat the Bears' (5-8, 2-4 MSC) defense with 46 seconds remaining in the first half. Ralph would finish her offensive blitz with two more goals early in the second half, scoring all three of her goals just over a 13-minute span. Alsip added tallies in the 71st and 76th minute.
Despite the hosts holding an 8-2 edge in shots during the opening half of play, three saves by Emily Kuehn looked to send the game into the break scoreless. However, Ralph's eighth shot of the first half and fourth on goal would give the Tigers a lead heading into the half.
Brittney Brooks and Aubrey Johnson put the Bears only two shots of the opening half on net, but both attempts were saved. Both of these shots came with less than 10 minutes to play in the opening half as Campbellsville's defense held the Bears without a shot for over 35 minutes to start play.
In the second half, the Shawnee State held a 12-11 edge in shots. However, the Tigers would convert four of those chances to pull away down the stretch. After a goal with 46 seconds remaining in the first half, the second goal from Ralph came just over two minutes into the second half. She would tally her third goal in the 58th minute of play. Alsip would then leave no doubt with two more goals with less than 20 minutes left in the match. Shelbi Halverson played the final 45 minutes and stopped four of the eight shots on goal that she faced during that time.
Jessica Fair finished a team-high three shots, all coming during the second half. Brooks and Johnson each finished with two shots, including the one for each on goal. Four other players tallied a single shot. In total, the Bears tested the Tigers' Brandie Hagerman with six shots on goal. However, she was up for the test on each attempt in her shutout victory.
Women's soccer will now face the quick turnaround as they make the trip back to campus tonight for its 4 p.m. match with Purdue-Calumet tomorrow on the Shawnee Turf at 4 p.m. The next MSC game will be next Wednesday against the University of the Cumberlands.
