Walker Bags Hat Trick as Scots Win Opener 10-2

Mitchell, Main score twice in win

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (09/02/2023) — The Monmouth College women's soccer team hit double digits in the opening game of the season with a 10-2 home win over Maranatha Baptist on Friday night. The Scots had five goal scorers with Madison Walker (Vernon Hills, Illinois), Jae Mitchell (Rockford, Illinois) and Natalya Main (Peoria, Illinois) all scoring multiple times.

Mitchell got the Scots on the board less than five minutes into the game with an assist from freshman Danielle Beach (Geneseo, Illinois). The Sabercats tied the game on their first shot and three minutes later Elizabeth Schmidt (Waverly, Iowa) put the Scots on top 2-1. Mitchell made it 3-1 on an assist from Walker and Lynn Rech (Vacaville, California) gave the Scots a 4-1 lead with just over 15 minutes to play in the half. Monmouth added two more as Brooke Gruby (Leonardtown, Maryland) got on the board and Main scored with less than 30 seconds to play in the half.

"I was happy to see us convert and we created a lot of opportunities," said head coach Lucas Henderson. "It was fun to have everyone get out there and contribute in different ways and we scored from a variety of areas."

Walker scored her first goal of the game in the first minute of the second half and added another goal 15 minutes later. Beach and Main assisted on those goals and Walker picked up the hat trick with an unassisted goal. Leading 9-2 the Scots added a 10th goal when Main scored off a Beach assist with just over three minutes left.

"We got some good performances from newcomers out there today," said Henderson. "It was good to see them out there and see this team gel on the field like they have off the field and now we have to build on it."

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Walker has 19 career goals, tied for 11th on the Scots career list. She led Monmouth with 15 shots Friday, nine on goal. Beach had three assists in her college debut. Monmouth had seven newcomers take the field on Friday. Monmouth out shot MBU 49-2 in the game and shots on goal were 30. Schmidt played all 90 minutes. The Scots next play on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Decatur, Illinois against Millikin. After four straight road games the Scots next home game is Wednesday, September 13 against Dubuque at 4:30 p.m.