The Ashland Women’s soccer team was happy to be back in the Buckeye state. 

After a being swept on their Michigan road trip by Grand Valley State and Ferris State, AU Soccer returned home to Ohio and swept southern division foes Lake Erie and Walsh.

The back to back wins propelled AU back to the .500 mark in GLIAC play at 5-5 and 9-6 overall. 

Head Women’s Soccer coach Danny Krispinsky said of his team’s bounce back effort, “It was a tough road trip last weekend but our response from that trip has been excellent.”

He added, “We faced two tough teams, one on the road and one at home and we got the results we needed.” 

First up for the Eagles was a visit to Painesville to take on the Storm of Lake Erie College. 

After a scoreless first 45 minutes it was Lake Erie who broke the scoreless draught in the 53rd minute when forward Ashley Pryce found the back of the net. Pryce’s second goal of the season gave the Storm a 1-0 lead.

Under two minutes later AU responded. 

Freshman Kelsey McKernan found a crease in the Lake Erie defense and took advantage smashing home the game tying goal. 

Fellow freshman Morgan Bittengle, AU’s team leader in goals, got in to the act in the 69th minute. 

The fantastic forward sent a shot past the keeper and into the net for her 9th goal of the season. Bittengle’s goal gave AU their first lead of the match.

Senior keeper Karly Bueck was able to make that 2-1 result stand up, as she shut down the Lake Erie attack with six saves in the match to earn her eighth win of the season. 

Krispinsky praised Bittengle saying, “I don’t have enough positive things to say about Morgan. She has been playing at a high level for us all season and we are thrilled with her performance.”

Ashland looked to keep the momentum going as they welcomed the Cavaliers of Walsh University to Ferguson Field.

Walsh came roaring out of the gate to take the early advantage. 

In the fourth minute Cavalier forward Emily Durina pulled off one of the toughest tasks in soccer, chipping the ball over the head Bueck and in to the net for a goal. The chip shot gave Walsh an almost immediate 1-0 lead.

Morgan Bittengle continued her excellent 2014 campaign in the 12th minute. 

Bittengle corralled a rebound and knocked home her tenth goal of the season. Bittengle’s goal knotted the match up at 1. 

Ashland assumed control of the match in the 32nd minute when Alexandra Kovarik received senior Kelsey Dropsey cross and deposited into the net. The junior’s second goal of the season gave Ashland a 2-1 lead. 

Ashland’s defense shut down the Cavalier attack for the final 58 minutes of the match, and evened their GLIAC record at 5-5 with the 2-1 victory.

“I like our response but we can’t get in the pattern of falling behind early. It’s the same thing that happened Friday night, we give up the first goal and we respond with two goals. I like our responses the last two games but we need to try and avoid falling behind early,” Krispinsky said.

Morgan Bittengle’s two goals over the weekend moved her into third place in the GLIAC with ten for the season. 

Krispinsky said of Bittengle, “Morgan is a really important player for us. She continues to play at a very high level.” 

Up next for the Eagles will be a road trip to Canton to visit Malone on Oct. 30th before hosting Findlay on November 1 in their final regular season game. 

AU currently sits in a tie for 6th place in the GLIAC with 15 points, four points clear of 9th place Findlay. A win in the final week of the season guarantees them a spot in the GLIAC tournament. 

Krispinsky knows about the importance of the final week of the season, “This final week is important to put yourself in a good position to be seeded well in the conference tournament.”

He added, “But is also crucial that we continue the good form we have been playing at.”