Athena Offense Comes Alive

The women's soccer team found their scoring touch on Wednesday against Occidental.  Needing a win to stay on track to qualify for the SCIAC Tournament, the Athenas responded with a 5-1 victory.  CMS had lost three straight coming into the game and only scored two goals combined in that stretch, but it was Occidental that started off with more of the run of play in the first 20 minutes.   CMS kept their composure and kept working hard and that hard work paid off in the 23rd minute when a pass from Madi Shove found Lizzie Van Buskirk (pictured) in the box and she slotted her shot for the first goal of the game.  Just moments later, Oxy's forward dribbled through two of CMS' defenders and then fell as the third defender tackled.  The referee blew the whistle and awarded a penalty kick which tied the game 1-1.  CMS did not back down, and within five minutes had the lead again when Michele Barnhill dribbled from midfield and hit a shot from 25 yards out just over the hand of the Oxy keeper.  In the final minute of the first half, Barnhill's sister Ashley scored her first goal of the season after turning and shooting inside the box to put the score at 3-1.

The second half saw CMS take over the game.  In the 50th minute, M. Barnhill received the ball out wide on the right and sent a beautiful cross that found Van Buskirk on a run where she volleyed into the net for one of the nicest goals all season.  Just over a minute later, Shove was taken down in the box and Rosa Ahn converted the penalty kick for her first career goal.  The CMS defense only allowed three shots in the second half and the Athenas secured the convincing 5-1 win.

CMS hosts Pomona-Pitzer this Saturday at 11:00 am.  The teams are currently tied for second in the SCIAC standing at 5-3.