Marietta women's soccer shuts out Mount Union 4-0 to improve chance for OAC Tournament berth
Martinez scores 28th career goal in victory

Oct. 29, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College senior forward Jessica Martinez (Strongsville/Magnificat), the reigning Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Women's Soccer Player of the Week, moved into sole possession of second place on the Pioneers’ all-time scoring list, and Head Coach Pat Holguin’s squad stayed alive in the OAC Tournament race with a 4-0 victory over visiting Mount Union College Wednesday (Oct. 29) afternoon at Marietta Field.

The win improved Marietta’s record to 5-9-3 overall and 3-2-2 in the OAC. The Pioneers need one more win to secure one of the six spots in next week’s OAC Tournament. Marietta could still sneak in with a tie or even a loss but would need help around the Conference. Mount Union fell to 4-13-1 overall and 1-7 in league play.

Martinez, who entered the game tied with Amy Lehosit ’06 with 27 career goals, moved one goal closer to the all-time record with her 28th career goal in the 55th minute. Dawn Karbler ’97 holds the school record, which is 46 career goals. The captain chipped the Mount Union keeper from 12-yards out for her seventh score of the season, which gave her team a 2-0 advantage. Martinez, who also has a team-best four assists in 2008, increased her career point total to 65, which ranks third in school history.

Marietta had taken a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Freshman forward Christina Tirpak (Galena/Olentangy) set up classmate Cara Nuss (Dayton/Carroll) with a pass from near the end line back to the center of the six-yard box. Nuss, a midfielder, received the pass and calmly fired the ball inside the near post for the goal, her third of the fall.

The Pioneers added two late goals to put the game away. Freshman midfielder Ashley Drehs (Parma/Normandy) scored her third goal of the season in the 85th minute. Senior midfielder Amanda Fishburn (Cincinnati/Seton) assisted the goal, which came on a shot to the post from inside the six-yard box. Fishburn then assisted Nuss’ second goal of the game in the 89th minute. The captain sent a cross through the box, which Nuss finished inside the far post from just outside the six-yard box for her fourth score of the year.

Marietta finished with a season-high 27 shots, 11 of which were on goal. Mount Union had just five shots with three coming on goal. The Pioneers also led 6-0 in corner kicks.

Sophomore keeper Helen Hetzel (Radnor/Buckeye Valley) stopped all three of those shot en route to the shutout, her second of the year. Mount Union’s Kaitlyn Mallernee made seven saves in the loss.

Marietta will close out the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 1) afternoon when the Pioneers play host to Ohio Northern University. Saturday is Senior Day at Marietta Field. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.