ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Women's Soccer put together a thrilling offensive performance at Wunderlich Field, defeating the Hawaii Pacific Sharks 3-0 on Friday. The Oaks attacked with purpose from the opening whistle, finding the back of the net three times while showcasing creativity, determination and plenty of firepower in the final third. The victory also marked Menlo's first shutout of the season, with Caroline Cordes and Lily Roberts combining for six saves to keep the Sharks off the scoreboard.
Oak Highlights
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Leilani Phillips continued her tear with two goals. Phillips now has three goals on the season.
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Avery Grieve scored the first collegiate goal of her career.
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Jacky Vasquez Lopez recorded her second assist of the season.
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Menlo registered 18 shots throughout the match.
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Caroline Cordes and Lily Roberts combined for six saves.
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The Oaks earned their first shutout of the season.
Oaks' Offense was Relentless
Leilani Phillips wasted little time making her presence felt, opening the scoring in the 13th minute. After stealing the ball from the Sharks' defense at the top of the box, she put out a driven hard shot toward the left post. A slight deflection from the Hawaii Pacific goalkeeper sent the ball into the post, where it bounced into the back of the net to give Menlo an early 1-0 lead.
After halftime, Avery Grieve delivered a moment of her own in the 48th minute, scoring the first collegiate goal of her career in spectacular fashion. Grieve drove into the attack while taking on multiple defenders along the Sharks' defensive line before unleashing a hard-driven shot. The ball curled around the goalkeeper and into the top right corner, sending the Oaks into an absolute frenzy and stretching Menlo's lead to 2-0.
Menlo was not finished. In the 54th minute, Jacky Vasquez Lopez lofted a perfectly placed corner kick toward the top of the six-yard box, where Phillips rose to meet it. Phillips powered her header through the traffic and past the goalkeeper to seal the 3-0 victory and complete her two-goal afternoon. The Oaks continued to create opportunities throughout the match, finishing with 18 shots as players throughout the lineup contributed to a relentless offensive attack.
Up Next…
The Oaks will take their momentum on the road after the holiday weekend, on Monday, September 7, traveling to Rocklin for a 2 pm kickoff. Menlo will look to carry its offensive firepower and defensive momentum into their matchup against the Warriors of Jessup University.
