Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – Grace Iaquinta (Lincoln East HS, Lincoln, Neb.) had a goal and an assist Wednesday as Augustana remained unbeaten in 2016 with a 3-0 whitewash of Illinois Tech at Stuart Field. Coach Scott Mejia's Vikings improved to 3-0 on the season, while the host Scarlet Hawks dropped to 0-2-1.
 
Augustana peppered Illinois Tech with six shots in the first 27 minutes of play and put five of those on frame. Scarlet Hawk keeper Jessica Park was up to the task though, turning away all five to keep the score 0-0.
 
In the 28th minute, the Vikings got on the board when junior Sammi Farkos (Homewood-Flossmoor, Ill.) scored off a corner by senior Bri Frys (Fremd HS, Palatine, Ill.).
 
Park continued her stellar play, recording five more saves in the period to keep her team within 1-0 at halftime and stopping four more Viking attempts in the first 11 minutes of the second half. Finally, in the 57th minute, Augustana was able to add an insurance goal. Freshman Anna Fank (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) tallied her second of the season off an Iaquinta assist to make it 2-0.
 
Iaquinta had a golden opportunity of her own in the 67th minute, getting free on a breakaway. However, Park came out aggressively and made an outstanding save and Iaquinta's follow up sailed wide right. It took the Augustana junior just two and a half minutes to redeem herself though. Trailing weak side on an Andria Serra (Alleman HS, Silvis, Ill.) dash up the right, she was there to put away the rebound after Park deflected Serra's shot.
 
While the offense pressured Illinois Tech all night, putting 21 of 31 shot attempts on goal, Mejia's defense was rock solid. His back line of Farkos and Frys, along with freshmen Allison Harvey (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) and Hannah Rossi (Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) limited the Scarlet Hawks to four shots on the evening. Just one was put on frame and it was turned away by junior keeper Bailey Bradford (Deerfield HS, Riverwoods, Ill.).
 
In addition to the large discrepancy in shots, the Vikings had an 8-0 advantage in corners. Park finished with 17 saves for Illinois Tech.
 
The Vikings are back in action this Saturday, September 10, hosting Webster in a noon match at Thorson-Lucken Field.