FENTON, Mo. – Behind a four-goal performance from Malaya Blakely, the top-seeded Webster University women's soccer team rolled past fourth-seeded Greenville University, 8-1, Thursday afternoon in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament semifinals at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.
The Gorloks improved to 12-2-1 on the season and advanced to Saturday's SLIAC Tournament Championship match.
Blakely led the offensive attack with four goals on 10 shots, including seven on goal. Emily O'Reagan added two goals, while Lucy Elfrink and Sydney Oliver each found the back of the net. Mia Smith contributed two assists in the victory.
Webster wasted little time taking control, as Blakely opened the scoring in the eighth minute off an assist from Ellie Fiala. Elfrink doubled the advantage in the 26th minute on a feed from Smith before Blakely added her second goal in the 43rd minute, giving the Gorloks a 3-0 halftime lead.
Greenville cut the deficit to 3-1 in the 51st minute on a goal from Idaly Valenzuela, but Webster responded with five unanswered goals to put the match away.
Blakely completed her hat trick in the 54th minute off an assist from Kira Konigsfeld-Mawer before adding her fourth goal less than three minutes later on a feed from Sofia Bosnos. O'Reagan extended the lead in the 63rd minute, assisted by Isabelle Schumacher, and Oliver followed with a goal in the 66th minute. O'Reagan capped the scoring in the 89th minute off an assist from Riley Ballenger.
Webster held a 20-14 advantage in shots, including a 12-7 edge in shots on goal, while earning six corner kicks to Greenville's two. Goalkeepers Leia Adkins and Kayla Jantzen combined for six saves, with Adkins recording five in nearly 74 minutes of action.
The Gorloks will return to World Wide Technology Soccer Park on Saturday, November 7, for the SLIAC Tournament Championship at 1 p.m. against the winner of Westminster and Spalding.
