ST. JOSEPH – Seven team and individual records fell on the first night of the 2017 Griffon soccer season in an 8-1 trouncing of Ouachita Baptist.

Missouri Western completely dominated its opening game of the Stoney Creek MIAA-GAC Crossover with the most prolific offensive night in the program’s 13-year history. Freshman Taylor Schwartzkopf became the first Griffon to achieve a hat trick and the team’s eight goals eclipsed its previous high of six from the second game of the 2014 season. The Griffons out-shot Ouachita Baptist 41-7 on the night, including a 24-2 advantage in the first half.

RECORDS BROKEN
– Goals in a game (team) – 8
– Goals in a game (individual) – Taylor Schwartzkopf, 3
– Points in a game (team) – 21
– Points in a game (individual) – Schwartzkopf, 6
– Shots in a game (team) – 41
– Shots in a game (individual) – Cassidy Menke, 11
– Assists in a game (team) – 5
– Career Starts (goal keeper) – Sarah Lyle, 53

PHENOMENAL NIGHT FROM FRESHMEN
Schwartzkopf scored Missouri Western’s first two goals and took seven total shots, five on goal, but she wasn’t the only freshman to make an impact. Madison Utley also scored her first career goal and Chad Edwards was able to work 10 of his first-year Griffons into the game.

LYLE RETURNS
Sarah Lyle returned to the pitch after sitting out the 2016 season for personal reasons. Her start in goal made her MWSU’s all-time leader in that category to go along with some of her other career accolades. The senior’s services were only required for one half as she made one save on Ouachita Baptists’s only first half shot on goal. Freshman Ally Barb played the entire second half in goal, making two saves and allowing one goal.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western continues hosting duties of the crossover event with Harding at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Emporia State defeated Harding, 2-0 at Spratt Memorial Stadium Friday night.

— MWSU Athletics —