COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's soccer team utilized fast starts in both the first and second half to down visiting Marietta College 4-0 on Wednesday evening. 

The win moves Capital to 9-6-1 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Marietta slips to 4-7-2 and 1-3-2 in the OAC. 

Capital scored twice in the first 13 minutes of the first half and then twice in the first 11 minutes of the second half to put the result to bed. The usual suspects, Grace Estes (2), Lexi Snider and Catherine Zugaro were responsible for the goals, while Zugaro (2), Sophia Leonetti (2), Snider and Francesca Longano dished out the assists. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got on the board in just the 10th minute as Grace Estes netted her 12th goal of the year and 20th career goal. Although not the prettiest of finishes, Estes used her left foot to knock in a cross from Lexi Snider. Snider and Francesca Longano worked a nice sequence down the left side of the field before Snider sent the cross that was ultimately touched in by Estes. 

Capital wasn't satisfied with just the one goal as they added a second in the 13th minute. This time, Snider was the goal scorer thanks to assists from Sophia Leonetti and Catherine Zugaro. A pass from Longano was sent up field to Zugaro. The reigning OAC Offensive Player of the Week took one touch to set up Leonetti who slotted the ball through to Snider to deposit into the low right of the goal for her eighth goal of the year. 

With the comfortable head start, Capital kept pressing for more, eventually slinging 12 shots at the Marietta net before halftime. Unfortunately, no more shots would find the back of the net as the 2-0 score stood at the break. 

The Comets again came out of the gates fast in the second half, scoring in the 49th minute on Estes' second goal of the game. Estes took a pass from Zugaro and rocketed a right footed shot past the Marietta goalie making it 3-0, Cap. Sophia Leonetti set up Zugaro's primary assist, also earning an assist on the play. 

Capital kept it up as Zugaro finally got a goal of her own in the 56th minute. She found possession in the corner and carried that ball up the goal line before slotting a shot into the goal at the near post, pushing the score to 4-0. The goal was Zugaro's fourth in her last three games. 

That comfortable 4-0 scoreline would remain the final 34 minutes as Capital secured their third straight shutout win. In that stretch of games, Cap has outscored their opponents 17-0. 

Tonight's game saw Liv Alford get the start in goal where she played the first half and secured one save. Sofia Walton played the second half and also recorded just the one save. 

The defensive unit of Abby English, Mya Swearengin, Tori Kittrell, Taylor Marcum and others significantly played a role in Marietta taking just four total shots, including just the two on target. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Grace Estes scored goals number 12 and 13 for the season, bringing her level with BW's Sydney Rice for the OAC lead in the category. Her 13 goals is the most by a Capital player since All-American Hilary Ells scored 14 in 2013. A season ago, All-American Avery Hart scored 12 goals. Estes now stands at 21 career goals. 

Lexi Snider now sits with eight goals and seven assists – both career-highs in a season. She now sits at 17 career goals. 

Francesca Longano sits level with Snider for the team lead – and the OAC lead – with seven assists this season. 

Catherine Zugaro now has four goals and four assists on the season – all of which has come in the team's last three games. 

Sophia Leonetti now has three assists this season – the only three of her career thus far. 

The shutout for the Comets goalies marked the fourth shutout Liv Alford has been a part of this season and the third combined shutout for Sofia Walton this season. 

UP NEXT
Capital will host John Carroll on Saturday, October 21st for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Blue Streaks will be coming into that contest with a regional ranking and sitting atop the OAC after a win over Otterbein this evening.