Capital Lands at No. 22 in National Rankings

After a five game unbeaten streak and defeating a No. 14 Thomas More, we have found ourselves on the National Rankings. The NSCAA committee released this weeks rankings yesterday, September 17 which revealed us at Number 22 in the Nation. Not only did we land on the National scale but as No. 2 in the Great Lakes Region. 

As we look ahead to our schedule we have 3 upcoming opponents who are also regionally ranked including in-conference Baldwin-Wallace and Wilmington as well as Wittenberg who we face tonight at 7:00 PM @ Wittenberg. 

"It is always wonderful when the hard work that the players have been putting into the season gains them an early recognition nationally," said head coach Chris Kouns. "Our student-athletes have done a great job striving to improve every day, so to get an early nod by the ranking committee is something nice for them to enjoy."

Kouns also pointed out that his team has done a stellar job up to this point, but they need to continue their focus and determination for the remainder of the season to achieve their goals.

"It is vital that we look at this compliment with an understanding that this ranking does not complete our journey," Kouns said. "Following our last regular season game on Nov. 2, if we are still ranked, that will be the time when it is most important."

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5 Game Unbeaten Streak Continues...

VS. BERRY 

COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's soccer team showed mettle and grit in its 2013 home opener Friday evening, tallying twice in the last 15 minutes of play to defeat Berry (Ga.) 3-1 on the first day of the Fort Rapids Invitational at Bernlohr Stadium. 

Freshman Becca Cartmill (Temecula, Calif.) posted one goal and one assist, including the game-winner in the 78th minute, to lead the Crusaders (1-1-1 overall). Cartmill rebounded a deflection and, with the Vikings' keeper down after a collision with freshman Monique Hanayik (Sidney, Ohio), fired a shot from 30 yards into the open net....

VS. SHENANDOAH

COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's soccer team closed out the two-day Fort Rapids Invitational Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Shenandoah (Va.) in a non-conference contest at Bernlohr Stadium. 

Senior forward Hilary Ells (Grandview Heights, Ohio) tallied her third goal of the season in the 13th minute to provide all the Crusaders (2-1-1 overall) would need in the contest. Ells, who did not play due to injury in 2012, sent a strike from 20 yards out into the upper left corner and into the back of the net.

Sophomore forward Jamie Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla.) added a pair of late goals, her third and team-leading fourth of the campaign, to pad the Capital lead. On her first strike in the 80th minute, Murray took a great pass from sophomore midfielder Maura Fortino (Philadelphia, Pa.) and beat the keeper to the ball, finishing in an empty net.

Murray posted her second from Fortino just moments later, carrying the ball into the box following Fortino's pass and sending a shot past the keeper....

@ THOMAS MORE

The Capital University women's soccer team outlasted the region's top team on the road Wednesday, dealing No. 14 Thomas More its first loss of the year with a 2-1 victory in a non-conference affair at Crestview Hills, Ky. 

Senior forward Hilary Ells (Grandview Heights, Ohio) put away the game-winner for the Crusaders (3-1-1 overall) in the 108th minute of the contest. She posted her fourth goal of the year off a rebound.

After the Saints (3-0-1) took the lead on a penalty kick in the 34th minute, freshman forward Monique Hanayik(Sidney, Ohio) found the back of the net just under two minutes later to level the match for Capital. The unassisted tally was Hanayik's first of the season and first for her career, and was the first goal allowed by Thomas More this season....

VS. DEFIANCE

The Capital University women's soccer team won its fourth straight contest Saturday, defeating Defiance 4-0 in a non-conference affair at Bernlohr Stadium. The Crusaders (4-1-1 overall), who are unbeaten since opening the season with a 3-2 setback against then-No. 5 Carnegie Mellon (Pa.), controlled possession from the early going and didn't look back.

 Junior midfielder Jessie Cermelj (Westerville, Ohio) totaled a pair of goals for Capital, which outshot the Yellow Jackets (2-3-1) by a 19-0 margin.

Senior midfielder Katie Freshour (North Canton, Ohio) supplied all the offense Capital would need, sending a header into the back of the net for her first goal of the season in the 39th minute. Sophomore midfielder Allison Mervau (Micanopy, Fla.) assisted on the play, sending a corner kick perfectly in front of the net. 

The Crusaders padded their lead in the 73rd when freshman forward Monique Hanayik (Sidney, Ohio) slipped the ball off a defender and into the back of the net off of a pass from senior forward Madison Palmer (Spring Arbor, Mich.). The tally was Hanayik's second of the year....

FOR THE FULL STORIES AND BOX SCORES VISIT 
OUR WEBPAGE: Capital Women's Soccer

OPENING WEEKEND - 2013 CAMPAIGN

Crusaders impressive despite loss in season-opener to No. 5 Carnegie Mellon (Pa.)

The Capital University women's soccer team opened up the regular season Saturday on the road against nationally ranked No. 5 Carengie Mellon (Pa.).  

Just one season removed from the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Tartans brought a tough test to which the Crusaders were ready to take on. 

Fifteen minutes into the match, both teams recorded seven shots combined in the first twenty five minutes, before the Tartans struck first on a one-touch shot following a cross in the thirty fifth minute. 

Twenty seconds later, the Tartans capitalized on yet another goal to increase their lead to 2-0 before the end of the half. 

"We were terrific with possession in the first 25 minutes," said head coach Chris Kouns. "As you would expect from Carnegie Mellon, they came back at about the 25-minute mark and started to put us under."

Toward the end of the first half, Kouns substituted sophomore Jamie Murray into the game, which would end up being a huge payoff in the opening minute of the second half. 

"Anytime you're down 2-0 at halftime to the No. 5 team in the country, you come out and really take it to them in the second half," Kouns said. 

That they did as the Crusaders came out firing on all cylinders, taking back the momentum and capitalizing on the offensive side of the ball. 

Just fifteen seconds into the second half of play, Murray tallied the Crusaders first goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1 on a pass down the middle from senior Livvy Hein. 

Then in the fifty seventh minute, the Crusaders struck again as freshman Becca Cartmill dished out a tremendous assist to Murray as she netted her second goal to tie the match at two goals apiece. 

The Crusaders continued to attack as they forced the hand of their opposition just two minutes later, as Hein connected on a shot that deflected off of the goal post. 

Both teams traded shots as the Tartans attempted a shot of their own in the sixty fifth minute, but to no avail as senior Maggie Donnellan was there for the save.....

Capital Ties Penn State-Behrend in Tournament Finale

The Capital University women's soccer team tangled with yet another quality non-conference opponent Sunday, tying host Penn State-Behrend 2-2 on the second day of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament in Erie, Pa. 

One day after nearly downing fifth-ranked Carnegie Mellon, the Crusaders (0-1-1 overall) took a 2-1 lead early in the second half and nearly held on against the Lions, who qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament a year ago. 

"Today was a true test of the mental toughness and resilience of this team and they answered the call," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "To come out less than 24 hours after an amazing effort to vie for an upset over Carnegie Mellon and have to play a conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant was a daunting task."

 Senior forward Hilary Ells' first goal since the 2011 season gave Capital a 2-1 lead early in the second half. The Grandview Heights, Ohio, native, who was dealt a season-ending injury prior to the 2012 campaign, tallied unassisted just 13 seconds into the period on a shot from inside the box.......

FOR THE FULL STORIES & BOX SCORES VISIT OUR 

WEBPAGE: http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/wsoc/index