Box Score
OAC Women's Soccer Standings

The Capital University women's soccer team scored three times in the first half and used strong possession in the second Wednesday on its way to a 4-0 victory at Marietta in an Ohio Athletic Conference affair in Marietta, Ohio.

With the win, the Crusaders (9-6-1 overall, 4-1-1 OAC) remain in second place in the league standings with three matches remaining in the regular season. The top six in the conference earn bids to the OAC Tournament, with the top two seeds receiving byes to the semifinals.

"Overall, I thought we played OK," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "It certainly wasn't our best appearance of the year, but it gave us things to build on. Hopefully as we continue to move forward, we can create the consistency needed to compete for an OAC championship."

Capital outshot the Pioneers (3-10-1, 1-4-1) by a 24-3 margin and held an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Crusaders scored just over three minutes and never let go of control of the contest. Junior goalkeepers Maggie Donnellan (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Melanie Graeff  (Bellbrook, Ohio) combined for the shutout.

Senior Natalie Fiorelli (Pickerington, Ohio) tallied what proved to be the game-winner in the fourth minute, taking a cross from classmate Dani Irwin (LaGrange, Ky.) and finding the back of the net near the left post. It was Fiorelli's team-leading seventh goal of the 2012 campaign.

Senior Kate Connell (Drexel Hill, Pa.; at right) doubled Capital's lead in the 19th minute on a deflection off the Marietta goalkeeper for her first goal of the year.

Sophomore Jessie Cermelj (Westerville, Ohio) also struck for the first time this season, putting the ball just inside the left post in the 40th minute. Freshman Allison Mervau (Micanopy, Fla.) assisted on the play.

The Crusaders added one more in the 90th minute as freshman Rachael Wintering (Lewis Center, Ohio) took a pass from Cermelj and scored.

"We're pleased to pick up another win on the road, and we're also pleased to have gotten a shutout," Kouns said. "Any time you can do both of those things on the same day, it's a pretty good effort."

Capital resumes play this Saturday at Baldwin Wallace. Match time is set for 4:30 p.m. in Berea, Ohio. The game is the first half of a women's-men's doubleheader.