By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---Jessica Grindle scored three goals and added one assist to lead the Express women's soccer team past Mercyhurst North East 7-0 today.

The Express offense peppered Mercyhurst North East's goalkeeper, Olivia Shear, all day. They finished with 31 shots on goal, while Shear saved 20 shots and numerous shots hit the side posts and crossbar.

Grindle got the Express out to a 2-0 lead early as she scored just 4:30 and 6:31 into the game. Later, Haley Gasser scored her second goal of the season with just under four minutes left in the first half to give the Express a 3-0 lead at the break.

Gasser assisted on Grindle's first goal, while Brittany Powell assisted on Grindle's second goal. Gasser's goal came when she stole the ball from a defender and lofted a nice shot over the goalkeeper's head.

In the second half, the Express continued to pressure the Mercyhurst North East defense. Their first goal of the half came when Megan Soncrant was fouled deep in Mercyhurst territory in the 52nd minute. Elizabeth Theaker took the free kick and directed it into the top left corner of the net for her first career goal.

The next goal came in the 60th minute when Grindle crossed a shot from the left, which Abby Groll headed in for her first goal of the season.

The Express went up 6-0 when Samantha Starkey scored her first career goal in the 64th minute. Marissa Ramirez headed the ball off a corner kick to Starkey, who delivered the shot.

Grindle then drilled a laser of a shot into the top corner of the net in the 70th minute to finish the scoring. Lacee Ortman picked up her first assist on the goal.

Erika Brinkman started in goal for the Express. She did not face a shot on goal in the game's first 81 minutes before being replaced by Soncrant for the rest of the game.

Notes

Today was the first multiple goal game for Grindle, a sophomore who had previously scored eight career goals in separate games. It was the third time in her career that she recorded at least one goal and one assist. She now has a team-high five goals this year. Her seven points today marks the fourth most in a single game in Express women's soccer history.

Soncrant saw her first minutes of the season in goal today. The backup goalkeeper spends most of her time at midfield for the Express. 

While the Express outshot Mercyhurst 31-0, they also posted a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Theaker now has one career goal to go along with an assist she had last year. Powell and Groll now have one goal and one assist in their first year with the Express. Ramirez picked up her second career assist.

Ramirez nearly scored her first career goal late in the game on a header off a corner kick, but the ball hit the crossbar and was cleared out.

Today's game marked the second shutout of the season for the Express defense.

BCSN broadcasted today's game. Check out BCSN.tv for more info on how to view it.

The Express (3-2 overall) will travel to Adrian, MI to take on Siena Heights University's JV team on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Their next home game is Sept. 18 against Cincinnati State Technical and Community College at 4 p.m.