CMS Women's Soccer Uses Quick Start For 3-0 Win Over Whittier

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Ava Sherry and Nicole Oberlag assisted on each other's goals in the game's first six minutes as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and went on to a 3-0 win over Whittier in a non-conference game on Wednesday evening at Pritzlaff Field.

With the win, CMS starts out the regular season with a 2-0 record, after also defeating Willamette 3-1 on Friday. Whittier, meanwhile, slips to 0-2 with the defeat. 

It didn't take long for CMS to break on to the scoreboard, as Oberlag sent Sherry in alone with a well-placed through ball. Sherry took one touch to gather, and then slotted a shot into the lower-right corner for her second goal in as many games.  

Just 1:13 later, the two teammates struck again in reverse, as Sherry played a lateral ball to Oberlag just outside the right edge of the box. Oberlag was able to settle and pick out her corner, bending a perfect strike into the upper-left corner to make it a 2-0 game just 5:13 into the contest, giving her four points on a goal and three assists in the first two contests.  

Sam Ryan then helped put the game away just before the half on a loose ball following a header from Emma Fogg off a corner kick. Ryan's first attempt into shot traffic was played right back to her by Sunshine D'Elia, and Ryan was able to score a one-timer on her second try, just moments after checking into the game for her first collegiate goal.

CMS held a 19-9 edge in shot attempts on the day, including 10-1 in shots on goal. Athena Manthouli had one save for the Athenas in 85 minutes, before giving way to Taylor Levinson for the final five minutes as the two split the shutout. 

The Athenas will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to take on UC Santa Cruz in its final non-conference tune-up before SCIAC play begins next week. CMS and Whittier will meet a second time in a league game on Sept. 29 at Whittier.