Sept. 5, 2009 - Women's Soccer
Maroons Win Home Opener

CHICAGO -- Senior midfielder Claire Gill (Los Altos Hills, Calif./ King's Academy) and sophomore forward Allison Hegel (Vienna, Va./ Jefferson) each scored a pair of goals as the 16th-ranked University of Chicago women's soccer team defeated Babson College 5-1 Saturday in the Maroons' home opener at Stagg Field.

The teams traded goals in the game's first seven minutes before Chicago (2-0) tallied three times during a 20-minute stretch to close out the first half.

Gill fired a 25-yard shot from the right side past Babson starting goalkeeper Sam Scarpato just 2:03 into the contest. Babson (1-2) answered when Kristy Benoit dribbled in from the right side and scored from eight yards out at the 7:09 mark.

Chicago took the lead for good in the 20th minute when senior midfielder Molly Costich (Wilton, Conn./ Wilton) finished a rebound of a shot off the foot of junior forward Sarah Loh (Grand Rapids, Mich./ Forest Hills Northern). Senior midfielder Melissa Plesac (Hobart, Ind./ Hobart) also assisted on the goal.

Gill's second goal of the day, on a 20-yard shot, gave the Maroons a 3-1 advantage in the 23rd minute. Hegel then notched the first of her two goals -- and the first of her career -- off an assist from senior forward Julie Bischoff (Rockford, Ill./ Boylan) with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

Hegel accounted for the only scoring of the second period, when she converted a penalty kick in the 84th minute.

Freshman Molly Miller (Woodinville, Wash./ Bear Creek School) played the first 75 minutes in goal for the Maroons before senior Jill Lenson (Newton, Mass./ South) came on for the final 15 minutes. Miller collected a pair of saves en route to her first career victory.

Scarpato allowed three goals without a save in 27:43 of action for Babson. Sarah Macary stopped three shots and yielded a pair of goals in 62:17.

Chicago returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 9 at North Park University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Box Score