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COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's soccer team tallied four times in the first half Wednesday to roll to a 4-1 victory over Muskingum in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown at Bernlohr Stadium.

With the win over Muskingum (4-12-1 overall, 0-7-1 OAC), the Crusaders locked in their spot in the OAC Tournament, which begins Monday with two quarterfinal matches. Capital is currently tied for second place in the standings with Baldwin Wallace, which would earn the No. 2 seed in the tournament if the two teams are still tied by virtue of its 1-0 triumph over the Crusaders last Saturday.

The Crusaders (10-7-1 overall, 5-2-1 OAC) have also clinched at least one home match in the tournament. With a loss Saturday at Otterbein or a Baldwin Wallace win at Marietta, Capital would be the No. 3 or 4 seed and host a quarterfinal match on Monday. With a win and a Baldwin Wallace loss, the Crusaders would receive a bye to the semifinals and host the winner of the No. 3/6 quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Freshman Kim Hoerauf (Worthington, Ohio) posted two goals to lead Capital. Senior Natalie Fiorelli (Pickerington, Ohio) recorded her team-leading eighth goal of the year, while junior Madison Palmer (Spring Arbor, Mich) also found the back of the net.

"We're especially pleased to pick up the win because we played well in the first half," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "I think 4-0 after the first half was pretty well-deserved. Overall, that's the kind of game you want that puts you into the conference tournament, and that's the kind of half that can help you in a tough game against the regular season champion this Saturday."

Fiorelli took a pass from freshman Rachael Wintering (Lewis Center, Ohio) in the 16th minute and finished over the head of the keeper to open scoring. Hoerauf (at right) took a bounding ball from junior Lauren Roy (Toledo, Ohio) and tallied what proved to be the game-winner in the 29th.

In the 38th, Palmer received a touch from junior Livvy Hein (Columbus, Ohio) and ripped a shot from near the top of the box into the left corner of the net. Just over a minute later, Hoerauf registered her second of the match on an assist from freshman Allison Mervau (Micanopy, Fla.).

"I was especially pleased with the way we played feet today," Kouns said. "We did a lot better job of trying to find the options underneath and not playing quite so direct."

Capital's match against Otterbein is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Westerville, Ohio. The Cardinals wrapped up the conference regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the OAC Tournament on Saturday.