By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---The Owens Express women's soccer team defeated Lorain County Community College 7-0 in a home match Wednesday behind Marissa Szabo's (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) three-goal performance.

She now has nine goals in the past four games.

The shutout is the second straight for the Express as they were coming off a 5-0 victory over Indiana Tech JV. Overall, the Express have posted five shutouts this year.

At the 13:33 mark of the first half, Alyvia Lieber (Maumee/Maumee, Ohio) put the Express on the board on an assist from Kendra Eitniear (Swanton/Swanton, Ohio). Szabo then scored 25 seconds later on a crossing shot from Haley Gasser (Northview/Sylvania, Ohio) to put the Express up 2-0. The score would remain 2-0 until the half.

Then, Szabo added her second goal at the 47:50 mark on another assist from Eitniear, who then increased the Express lead to 4-0 on a goal of her own at the 51:19 mark. Szabo added her third goal at the 67:52 mark on the third assist from Eitniear to put Owens up 5-0. Gasser and Lieber scored the final two goals at the 75:10 and 81:36 marks of the second half.

Overall, Szabo had three goals, Lieber had two goals, Gasser had one goal and one assist, and Eitniear had one goal and three assists.

Shara Williams (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) started in goal for the Express and saved two shots on goal. Jaime Sesock (Holly/Davisburg, Mich.) entered in goal at the 70:35 mark and also saved two shots. It was the first time anyone other than Williams has played goal this year.

With the win, the Express guaranteed no worse than a .500 winning percentage in their first season as an NJCAA Division I sport.

Owens (10-4) will next battle No. 15-ranked Lewis and Clark Community College (10-2-1) at Lake High School at 7 p.m. Friday.