Box Score St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 2, 2014 – The No. 5-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team had its Senior Day spoiled with a 4-3 loss to New York University Sunday afternoon at Francis Field in St. Louis.
New York senior forward Cari Crawford tied a University Athletic Association (UAA) single-game record with four goals in the win. The El Dorado Hills, Calif. native scored two goals in each half to move into a tie for the conference lead with 10 goals.
New York improved to 11-5-1 and 3-2-1 in the UAA, and is in sole possession of third place in the UAA standings with 10 points. Washington U. drops to 12-3-2 and 2-3-1 in the UAA, and is tied with Emory University for fourth place in the UAA with seven points.
"NYU played a great game and a special player changed the scoreboard," said Washington U. head coach Jim Conlon. "The WUSTL women fought valiantly and played together until the final whistle. That one is on coach, the players were fantastic today."
Prior to the contest, Washington U. honored its four seniors - Kaylin Balley, Tessa Delaney Tessa Klumpp and Lillie Toaspern. This year's senior class holds an overall record of 69-11-4 (.845), including a 21-5-2 mark in conference play. The Bears captured the 2012 and 2013 UAA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals three-straight years.
Washington U. outshot New York 5-1 in the opening 20 minutes of play, but it was New York who scored first. A misplay by sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy Crist 30 yards outside the box led to Crawford's first goal of the game.
Crawford had another opportunity less than two minutes later when her shot inside the box went over the head of Crist and off the crossbar. She made it 2-0 in the 28th minute after she took a long cross from Lexi Clarke and buried a shot from 20 yards out to the far corner.
Washington U. outshot New York 10-6 in the first half, but did not have a shot on goal. Crist played the first 33:25 in goal before being replaced by junior Amy French.
Crawford scored her third goal of the game on a breakaway in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0. With the Bears trailing by three, Washington U. mounted its comeback.
Sophomore Katie Chandler got the Bears on the scoreboard in the 55th minute on a shot from inside the box, and then less than four minutes later she gathered a lose ball in the box and beat NYU goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg with a shot to the left corner. She nearly tied the game in the 67th minute when her shot inside the box went off the crossbar. Chandler has eight goals this season, second on the squad and third in the UAA.
Crawford scored again in the 70th minute when she beat French from 32 yards out with a shot to the far right corner to make it 4-2. Toaspern added a goal on a long assist from sophomore Lexie Sprague in the 89th minute to round out the scoring.
Washington U. outshot New York 22-12 and had a 2-0 advantage on corner kicks. Crist (10-3-2) took the loss in goal for the Bears.
Washington U. closes out regular season play at home on Saturday, Nov. 8, against No. 16-ranked University of Chicago. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at Francis Field.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series with New York, 14-4-1, and the Violets snapped a two-game losing streak to the Bears … The Bears are 4-2-2 this season at home and 37-6-4 in the last four years at Francis Field … Toaspern goal in the second half was the 41st of her career, one shy of third place on the WUSTL all-time list … The Bears have not give up four goals in a game since a 4-0 loss at Wheaton (Ill.) Sept. 15, 2012.
