Pride explode offensively as Cruz scores four in 8-2 win over Graceland

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Entering play on Tuesday averaging 1.5 goals per game, the Clarke University women's soccer team found their offensive touch against Graceland University in an 8-2 trouncing of the Yellowjackets.

The Pride scored three goals in the first half and five in the second half but also conceded a goal in each half to come away with the six-goal margin of victory having not scored more than three goals in a game this season.

Senior Genevieve Cruz led the charge, finding the back of the net four times, two in each half, to take the team-lead in goals this season now with seven as she also added an assist in the game to move her team-leading point total to 19. Those four goals is the most she's scored in her two seasons at Clarke and with her seven goals on the year, she's already surpassed her 2021 total for the entire season as she scored six goals a season ago.

Fellow starting striker Shannon Catchur also found the scoresheet on multiple occasions, assisting on both of Cruz's first half goals and scoring a goal in the second half herself to make it a 6-1 game at the time. 

The trio of Carley Gylling, McKenzie Nodolf, and Deirdre Martin all scored their first goals of the season with Gylling capping off the first half scoring along with Nodolf and Martin scoring their first career collegiate goals in the second half.

Clarke women's soccer will be back at Burrows Field for the Homecoming game on Saturday night when they host MidAmerica Nazarene for a 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff against the Pioneers.