Chicago, Ill. - For their final home Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) match-up of the 2023 regular season, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's soccer team welcomed the Benedictine University Eagles to Stuart Field. The Hawks (14-2-1, 11-0) spent the first 45 minutes of action tallying up goals, netting five in the first half. During the second half, both sides would score once, with both the Hawks and the Eagles (4-9-3, 4-6-1) scoring in the final two minutes of play. The Hawks 6-1 victory extends their conference undefeated streak to 11. 

How it Happened

• In the 11th minute, the first goal of the contest came and there was no looking back for the remaining 34 minutes left in the first half. Caitie Chismarich got the goal scoring started for the Hawks with a left-footed goal. After an initial shot by Kelly Hitchcock was blocked by an Eagles defender, Chismarich was immediately able to run onto the free ball, taking one touch to get into space inside the 18-yard box before taking a left-footed shot, placing the ball into the back of the net. 

• The Hawks went up 2-0 five minutes later in the 16th minute with a goal by Kelly Hitchcock off a Carolyn Beltran assist. Beltran sent a high cross into the center of the box, just above the 6-yard box, to where Hitchcock was making a run. Hitchcock was able to get the jump on her defender, redirecting the ball with her head and placing the ball in between the crossbar and the Eagles goalkeeper. 

• In the 26th minute, Chismarich recorded a brace with a goal off an Amelia Moseman assist. Moseman, who was able to juke off her defender with multiple moves, dribbled towards the top of the 18-yard box before laying the ball off the Chismarich. Chismarich took two touched with the outside of her foot to turn the ball and herself towards the goal and past the Eagles defender. Chismarich then ripped off a left-footed shot into the same lower near post corner as her first goal, putting the Hawks up 3-0.

• Kenzie Tokuchi joined in on the goal scoring in the 33rd minute of action. After receiving the ball inside the 18-yard box, Tokuchi fought with an Eagles defender to gain control of the ball. With just enough distance, Tokuchi was able to rip-off a right-footed shot into the opposite side netting, giving the Hawks a 4-0 lead. 

• Seven minutes later, Tokuchi netted a brace, putting the Hawks ahead 5-0. After her initial shot was saved by the Eagles goalkeeper, Tokuchi was able to get her foot on the deflection to send the ball into the back of the net. 

• After an exciting first 45 minutes of action, it would take both sides until two minutes remaining in the second half to score one goal a piece. The Hawks got their sixth and final goal of the game in the 89th minute when Wiktoria Ucher scored off an Ally Sanchez assist. Earning a corner kick, Sanchez sent a bouncing ball towards the top of the 18-yard box where Ucher was able to hit a fast paced ground ball through the box, past the diving goalkeeper's hands, and into the back of the net, putting the Hawks ahead 6-0. 

• The Eagles tallied their lone goal of the game in the final minute of action as Olivia McPherson scored off a Kiara McPherson assist. K. McPherson sent a cross into the box where O. McPherson was able to get a touch, causing the ball to go in the air, turn, and send a fast paced shot just above the diving Hawk goalkeeper and into the back of the net, making the final score of the game 6-1 in favor of the Hawks. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Caitie Chismarich - 54 minutes, 2 goals, 3 shots, 2 shots on goal

• Kenzie Tokuchi - 33 minutes, 2 goals 7 shots, 5 shots on goal

• Kelly Hitchcock - 44 minutes, 1 goal, 5 shots, 1 shot on goal

• Wiktoria Ucher - 17 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal

• Amelia Moseman - 48 minutes, 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal

• Carolyn Beltran - 71 minutes, 1 assist, 1 shot

• Ally Sanchez - 9 minutes, 1 assist

Eagles Standouts

• Olivia McPherson - 83 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal

• Kiara McPherson - 86 minutes, 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks finished with 42 shots, 19 on goal while the Eagles hit all 4 of their shots on goal.

• In saves, the Eagles tallied 13 while the Hawks had 3

• For corner kicks, the Hawks led 12-2. 

Up Next

The Hawks will be up in Milwaukee, Wis. on Saturday, October 21 when they take on the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors (7-7-1, 4-7). The NACC match-up will begin at 1:00 PM.