RIO GRANDE, Ohio — Kyla Toles and Maddie Woodard each had two goals and an assist to lead visiting Shawnee State University to a 5-1 win over the University of Rio Grande, Wednesday night, in non-conference women’s soccer action at Evan E. Davis Field.
The Bears, who posted their first win in the rivalry series since 2012, improved to 6-4-1.
Rio Grande suffered its second straight loss and its fifth setback in the last six outings, slipping to 3-6.
Shawnee State, which enjoyed a 16-1 first half advantage in shots, bolted to a 4-0 lead at the intermission and was never seriously threatened.
Woodard assisted on a goal by Schuyler Jones just 10:43 into the contest to get the scoring underway, before Toles scored both of her markers off assists from Jenny Campbell and 29:15 and 31:38, respectively, to make it 3-0.
Woodward had an unassisted goal 9:23 left in the half to give the Bears the four-goal cushion at the break.
Shawnee’s 4-0 lead remained intact until the game’s closing moments, when Rio freshman Morgen Grunkemeyer (Piqua, OH) scored with 5:17 remaining in the contest to allow the RedStorm to avoid a shutout.
Shawnee got the goal back a little less than three minutes later, though, when Woodard scored off a Toles’ assist to set the final margin of victory.
Michaela Garner had two saves in net for the Bears, who finished with a 23-8 edge in shots.
Sophomore Kristin Garn (Morrow, OH) stopped 11 shots in a route-going performance in goal for Rio.
Rio Grande will return to action on Saturday, at 5 p.m., when Cincinnati Christian University visits for a Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup.
The Eagles took a 2-8 record overall and an 0-1 mark in league play into Thursday night’s game with Midway University.
Randy Payton is the Sports Information Director at the University of Rio Grande.
