Lady Blues Dominate Cornell on Senior Day

Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's soccer team closed out the 2016 season in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon, scoring four unanswered goals to defeat Cornell College by a score of 5-1. The Lady Blues end the season at 8-9-1 (5-4-0 Midwest Conference), while the Rams fall to 3-15-0 (1-8-0 MWC).

On a Senior Day in which the five 2017 graduates became the winningest class in Illinois College history, the scoring started early. Less than three minutes in, Olivia Dobbs had a through ball slice open the Cornell defense and Ashley Sholmire scored at the far post to give the Lady Blues a 1-0 lead. 

Illinois College continued to press in the opening half, but in the 37th minute Cornell equalized. A foul called on IC resulted in a penalty kick for Deidre Franzen and her 15th goal of the season made it 1-1 late in the first half. 

The Lady Blues took the lead for good just before the break. A pass from Ally Kjellander found Mackenzie Bedgood and her header beat the Cornell keeper to put IC in front, 2-1, at halftime.

Immediately out of the gates, Bedgood gave the Lady Blues a two-goal lead in the 47th minute. Sholmire squared the ball and Bedgood rocketed it home from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 3-1. Moments later, Dobbs hit the post to keep it a two-goal game, but not for long. Dobbs again was in on the action with the assist in the 61st minute as Sholmire scored her second of the match to make it 4-1. 

With seconds remaining, senior Elizabeth Wagnon scored off an assist from senior Sarah Stover to give the Lady Blues their final goal of the season.

Samantha Vacek went the distance in goal for Illinois College, picking up the win while making five saves. Sholmire ended with five shots in the match, four of which were on target. 

The match was the final home date in the career of Kjellander, Rebecca Morris, Kaylen Sims, Stover and Wagnon.