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GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern started the scoring early and never let up as they easily defeated Huston-Tillotson University 6-0 on Sunday afternoon. Jillian Curran (pictured) led the way with two goals and one assist on the afternoon. The win improves the Pirates to 4-2-1 on the year.
Southwestern set the tone early with continuous offensive pressure, not allowing Huston-Tillotson past the midline through the opening ten minutes. A hand ball just outside of the box gave SU their first great look of the game, but Hannah Neil's shot sailed over the crossbar.
The Pirates scored first in the contest in the 11th minute on a cross by Laura Ornelas deep in Ram territory. HTU's keeper, April Taylor, made a play on the cross and was therefore out of position, allowing Curran to tap home the ball on an open goal.
Curran moved to a support role on the Pirates' second goal as the SU front line executed a perfect give-and-go. Cailey McLain had the ball in the middle of the field 25 yards out, fed Curran who dribbled deep into Rams' territory. Curran passed the ball back to McLain who was wide open in front of the goal. McLain, who had just checked into the game less than a minute prior, drilled the ball into the back of the net to put Southwestern up 2-0.
Hailey Warriner helped the Pirates go up by three, 3-0 on a perfect corner kick with just over one minute to go in the half. Her ball lofted into the box and Carol Bentley got the header into the back of the net giving some cushion to the Pirates.
Southwestern came out even stronger in the second half, wasting no time extending their lead. Ornelas' once again had a perfect corner kick in the 47th minute and four Pirates had a shot at the goal, but Curran was the one that made the goal a reality to put SU up 4-0.
Southwestern added two more goals in the closing minutes, one by Rebecca Petro, assisted by Warriner, in the 85th minute and one by Kylie O'Connor, assisted by Chelsea Letzer in the 87th minute to give Southwestern the 6-0 win.
The Pirates dominated the shot count taking 29 to the Rams' 2. SU held HTU to no corner kicks while having 11 opportunities themselves.
Southwestern heads out on the road for their next two contests as they open SCAC Conference action. SU faces Sewanee on Friday and Centre on Sunday.