Box Score FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin College women's soccer team continued a three-match homestand on Saturday (Sept. 29) night, taking on Defiance College in their HCAC opener as part of the homecoming weekend festivities.
The Grizzlies (4-5-1, 1-0 HCAC) scored early and often in front of family, friends and alumni, rolling to a 7-0 win over the Yellow Jackets (0-9, 0-1 HCAC). Senior forward Maddie Fleet was a force for the Grizzlies on offense, potting four goals and adding an assist for a nine-point evening, joining Jalynn Gorman as players with at least nine points in a game this year.
Fleet opened the scoring just 5:53 into the match, gathering in a pass from Emma Myers and firing a shot into the top right corner of the net. Fleet doubled the Franklin lead in the 19th minute, hammering home a Gorman crossing feed to stake the Grizzlies to a lead they would carry with them into the half.
The final 45 was all Grizzlies, as Franklin fired 18 second half shots on their way to five more goals. Cayla Crawford opened the scoring in the second half, tapping home a Fleet pass for her first goal of the year. Fleet completed the hat trick and added a fourth goal less than five minutes apart to make it a 5-0 game. Taylor McDaniel's second goal of the year in the 72nd minute and Jackie List's first career tally capped the scoring for FC in the 88th minute.
Shots were 31-11 in favor of the Grizzlies. Fleet uncorked a ridiculous 11 shot attempts on her own, putting seven on target. Junior goalkeeper Lexi Short earned her first clean sheet of the year, turning aside all seven Defiance shots on target.
Franklin wraps up their current homestand this coming Wednesday (Oct. 3), when the Hanover Panthers come to town for a big HCAC showdown under the lights. Kick-off from Faught Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
