FULTON, Mo. - The Spalding University women's soccer team continued their dominant conference run with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Westminster on Wednesday afternoon. The win keeps the Golden Eagles unbeaten in conference play, moving them to an impressive 6-0 record while improving to 12-3-1 overall. From start to finish, Spalding displayed composure, teamwork, and defensive discipline in a tightly contested matchup that demanded focus on both ends of the field.
TURNING POINT
The first half saw Spalding control much of the possession, working the ball through the midfield and creating several promising opportunities.
Emma Livingston and
Madison Dziedzic each tested the Westminster goalkeeper, but the Blue Jays' defense held firm early. Despite the score remaining level at halftime, the Eagles' constant pressure and organized shape made it clear they were dictating the pace of the game. Defensively, the back line and goalkeeper
Sophie Young-Neawedde shut down Westminster's limited attacks, holding them to just one shot on goal the entire game.
The breakthrough moment came in the 55th minute when sophomore
Taylor Touche, who entered as a substitute in the first half, delivered the decisive goal for Spalding. Dziedzic set up the play perfectly, threading a pass that found Touche in stride, and she calmly finished to put the Eagles ahead 1-0. From there, Spalding maintained their poise, continuing to apply pressure while keeping Westminster's attack at bay. The Golden Eagles outshot the Blue Jays 10-4, including seven shots on target, and also held a 2-0 edge in corner kicks, reflecting their consistent offensive momentum throughout the match.
On the defensive side, Young-Neawedde was sharp in goal, securing the clean sheet with a confident performance behind a disciplined back line. Westminster rarely found space to threaten, and Spalding's communication and coverage ensured that the slim lead held firm. Touche's goal may have sealed the result, but the collective effort of the entire roster was evident in every phase of the match—from midfield control to defensive structure and attacking buildup.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES
