Oct. 22, 2006
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State Owls are the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference champions. The Owls wasted no time in settling any question about whether or not they would share the regular season title or win it outright. The high-octane Owls scored five first half goals en route to a 7-0 win over Belmont in the conference finale at the KSU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Bruins (7-6-5, 2-5-2 A-Sun), needing a win to make the post season were overwhelmed early and often. Caitlin Dingle, who scored a pair of first half goals, gave Kennesaw State an early lead when she scored on a give-and-go from Laura Tucker in the 12th minute.
Pip Meo added a goal in the 17th minute when she gathered a through ball from Mandy Nolin and beat Bruins goalkeeper Micaela Crowley. In the 22nd minute Kennesaw State captain Rebecca Hall headed in a goal off a corner kick by Stephanie Grzeszkowiak for a 3-0 lead.
Dominating action in the half of the initial stanza, the Owls (12-1-2, 8-0-1) added pressure near the end of the half with equally impressive results. Annie Phillips scored on a header off a set piece in the 39th minute and Dingle added her second goal of the half just 32 seconds later on a 16-yard strike to the lower left corner.
Tucker, who has team-high 10 goals this season, added a pair of second half goals to finish up the scoring. In the 69th minute she headed in a corner kick from Grzeszkowiak and in the 83rd minute she scored on a 10-yard shot to the lower left corner off a feed from Abby Hirsch and Sarah Marek.
The Owls out shot Belmont 25-10 in the match and held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. KSU goalkeeper Staci Pugh earned her 11th shutout of the season, stopping six shots in the win.
Kennesaw State won the regular season championship in just its second season in the league and has compiled a 16-2-1 record in the A-Sun since joining the conference in 2005.
The Owls will conclude the regular season when they play Tennessee Tech on Friday, October 27 at the KSU Soccer Complex. The match will also be Senior Night as Kennesaw State honors the 2006 senior class of Laura Tucker, Rebecca Hall, Pip Meo, Annie Phillips, Stephanie Grzeszkowiak, Caitlin Jadlocki Abby Hirsch and Lindsay Smith.
