Delta Wins Third Straight

University Center, MI -  The DC women's soccer team dominated visiting Muskegon Community College on Saturday, defeating the Jayhawks 5-0 to improve to 5-2 on the season while upping their MCCAA record to 4-2.  It was the third consecutive win for the Pioneers and the third game in a row where they threw a shutout at the opposing team.  Over that span, Delta has outscored their opponents by a margin of 17-0.

"We've played with high intensity and a focus on possessing the ball," said head coach Paul Stenglein.  "With deep offensive pressure constantly being applied, scoring opportunities for opposing teams are limited."

Offensive pressure aside, Delta and Muskegon played to a 0-0 tie through the first 37 minutes having nothing to show for their effort.  In the 38th minute, Delta picked up their fifth corner kick of the contest and when a loose ball wasn't cleared, Aleisha Jones sent a hard shot past the keeper for a 1-0 Pioneer lead.  Ultimately, her goal would be the game winner, her second game winner of the year.

After making adjustments at halftime, DC scored early in the second half to go up 2-0 as Chelsea Temple slotted a ball across the goal and found Taylor Farrand whose redirect found the back of the net.  Farrand scored once again in the 65^th minute on an assist from Jones to pick up her third goal of the season.    

With the score 3-0, Gillian Carroll scored on a penalty kick to make it 4-0 after Muskegon was called for a foul inside the 18 yard line.  Jones would finish the scoring courtesy of an assist from Temple.  Jones took the pass, drove in and beat the Jayhawk keeper low into the corner of the net for her sixth goal of the season and 14^th point overall. 

"We're improving each practice and every game," said Stenglein.  "We're working hard to keep our tradition rolling and we're starting to realize that playing the vast majority of our schedule against (NJCAA) D1 opponents makes our trip to the post-season challenging."

"On the flipside, however, if we make it to the regional then this level of play will only help."

 The Pioneers have perhaps their toughest stretch of the season in the following week as they host MCCAA foe Jackson on the 23^rd before playing the SVSU Club team on Sunday the 25th.  That game will be followed with a contest against the Alma College JV team the next day.