Eagles claim 5th straight KIAC Title

WILMORE, Ky. – Asbury captured their fifth straight KIAC Women’s Soccer Championship on Wednesday with a 3-1 comeback victory over Cincinnati Christian University.  The Eagles went undefeated in the conference for the second straight year and have won 14 straight over KIAC opponents.

Asbury (5-12, 5-0 KIAC) fell behind in the 15th minute when they were whistled for a foul inside the 18-yard box, giving CCU a penalty kick.  Jackie Esterkamp put away the penalty kick to give CCU a surprising early lead.

The Eagles would tie the game 15 minutes later when Kat Leibbrandt scored off a pass from Aly Crawford.  Crawford found Leibbrandt open in the box and Kat easily beat the keeper to the left corner for her third goal this season. 

Crawford would score what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 54th minute, her fifth of the year.  Carwford had her first shot blocked by the defense but the ball came right back to her and she drilled it into the right corner.  Jen Mendelson would add the Eagle’s third goal of the night and her first of the year just 12 minutes later.

Both teams showed why they had put away every conference team thus far this season, as they each had several goal scoring opportunities.  Asbury finished with 15 shots for the game and CCU had 12.  Maegan Rogers made five saves for the Eagles while Amy Hardbarger stopped six. 

The Eagles have posted an astounding record of 27-1 against conference teams since the start of the 2006 season.  Asbury has claimed five straight regular season titles and four tournament titles in that span.  Asbury will look to claim their fifth straight tournament title beginning on November 5th as they open as the number one seed.  The tournament will be held at Berea College.

Asbury will finish out the regular season with a Homecoming and Senior Day game against Campbellsville University on Saturday at 12:30 pm.  Seniors will be recognized immediately following the match.