Box Score Abington, Pa. - The Lady Lions of Penn State Abington have been nothing this season if not a first-half squad. After today's four-goal first half onslaught against the Phoenix of Wilson College (2-9, 1-5 NEAC), the home team kept that trend intact, now having outscored opponents 14-3 in the first frame alone. Today's 5-0 victory also continued another milestone for the Lady Lions. The defense, anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Benedict and a strong back line, has now recorded over 293 minutes of scoreless ball from their opponents.
 
Penn State Abington (7-3, 5-1 NEAC) got of to a strong start early on in the match. Just nine minutes in, the Lady Lions had already recorded four shots. The fifth would be the game winner, even at this early into the match. After a cross from the left side went all the way to the box to the right, it was freshman Nicole Kidd who latched onto the ball. Kidd faced up to her defender and took a couple of dribbles before sending a pass back up to the top right of the penalty box. It was here that senior Brittany Palmer received the ball, taking a step and sending a beautifully arcing shot on goal. The perfectly gauged kick floated over the hands of the keeper and dipped into the netting, making the early score 1-0.
 
It was twenty minutes later that the Lady Lions got their first of four insurance goals. Freshman Desirae Holmes took possession of the ball along the left side of the attacking third. Taking several deft touches to get around her defender, Holmes sent a ball into the center of the box along the ground. Senior goalkeeper Katie Murphy came off her line and attacked the ball, trying to get to it before any of the Lady Lions attackers. The ball somehow slipped under Murphy, however, and trickled on towards the net. Palmer once again was on the scene, outracing the backtracking Phoenix defense and tapping the ball in from a yard out.
 
With the 2-0 lead, it was once again nearly twenty minutes before Penn State Abington would get back on the board. Kidd would get herself into the goal scoring column this time, with the assist from sophomore Sam Whalen. Whalen drove down the left side of the field before sending a great cross into the center of the box. Kidd went unmarked by any Wilson defenders, and slipped a perfect shot past the stranded keeper Murphy, making the score 3-0.
 
Just seventeen seconds later, Penn State Abington would squeeze in one more goal before the halftime whistle. Wilson turned the ball over right off the restart of the previous goal. The ball came right to the feet of freshman Desirae Holmes, who dribbled all the way from midfield to the top of the penalty box completely undefended. Holmes let rip with another great shot just inside the penalty box that found its way over Murphy and once again to the back of the net.
 
With the 4-0 lead and game well in hand, the Lady Lions took a much more laid-back approach to the second frame. The team continued to maintain most of the possession and passed the ball wonderfully, but only got one more goal to show for it. In the 70^th minute, the Lady Lions earned one of their eight total corner kicks. Palmer sent a great ball curling just to the top left of the goal box. Freshman Ashley Quenzer was waiting for the ball as it dropped perfectly at her feet. Her fist attempt at a shot was deflected right back to her, and Quenzer made the most of it, putting the ball into the netting one final time for the 5-0 lead.
 
It was another dominant performance from this Lady Lions squad, outshooting the Phoenix on the day by a tally of 36-4. Penn State Abington hopes to carry this momentum and scoreless streak through to their next matchup on Monday night. The team faces a tough test from Lancaster Bible College at 5 p.m. at Father Judge High School in a make-up of the game that was postponed due to storms earlier in September. Remember to keep track of all your Lady Lions soccer updates this season at abingtonsports.com.