Hughes and Coward record hat tricks in dominating victory to begin season

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College women's soccer team opened up the 2023 season with a dominating 8-0 victory over the Eureka College Red Devils in which the Yellow Jackets would out shoot their opponent 47-0. 

Hallie Webb opened the scoring with a breakaway goal less than two minutes into the contest. 21 minutes later, Webb sent a corner kick into the box and it deflected off Eureka's goalie for an own goal to make it 2-0. 

From that point on, the Yellow Jackets continued to dominate, and this time it was junior Lexi Coward and freshman Haley Hughes. Coward would score three straight goals during a ten-minute span early into the second half. In her collegiate debut, the freshman Hughes scored in between the own goal and Coward's first goal, while recording the final two goals of the contest with Webb and Christa Phillips recording assists. Hughes would also add an assist herself on Coward's second goal. 

Coward led the Yellow Jackets in shot attempts with 13, while goalkeeper Sarah O'Shea did not face any shots in the contest. 

The Yellow Jackets will look for another win tomorrow at home against Mount Mary at approximately 5 p.m.