Chicago, Ill. - On Senior Day for women's soccer, it was only fitting that seniors played a big part in their conference matchup with the Edgewood. Seniors Elena Esparcia Cañada and Julia Taliana combined to score five goals in the Scarlet Hawks dominating 8-1 victory over the Eagles Saturday afternoon at Stuart Field. The Hawks improved to 10-4-1 overall (6-3-0 NACC). The Eagles fell to 3-10-1 overall (2-6-1 NACC).

How It Happened

• Lucy Jorjorian opened the scoring in the 9-minute mark when she and Taliana worked a give-and-go, with Jorjorian firing a left-footed shot over the out-stretched hands of Eagles goalkeeper Hailey Corcoran for her second goal of the season.
• Esparcia Cañada was credited with her sixth goal of the season in the 23rd minute when a Kelly Hitchcock shot attempt was partially blocked by Corcoran, but continued to roll to the goal mouth before Esparcia Cañada and the Eagles Leah Doucette battled for the ball.
• Esparcia Cañada followed up in the 29th minute with a goal of the more traditional variety, knocking down a clearing attempt, working past 3 defenders and firing a booming shot past Corcoran for her seventh of the season and second of the game.
• Lisa Rios extended the Hawks lead to 4-0 in the 39th minute when Amelia Moseman pushed a pass between two defenders, where a rushing Rios beat Corcoran to the ball and tapped it into the right corner for her second goal of the season.
• Esparcia Cañada, being in the right place at the right time in the 51st minute, scored when a Taliana cross was deflected by Eagles goalkeeper Mackenzie Jones, and off the body of Esparcia Cañada for her third goal of the match and eighth of the season.
• A little over a minute later the Eagles answered back, when Siobhan Gallagher lofted a free kick straight on and over goalkeeper Sarah Thomas for her third of the season.
• Taliana quieted the Eagles uprising in the 60th minute when she took a through ball from Kenzie Tokuchi down the right side and chipped a right-footer of the hands of Jones and into the right corner of the net for her fourth of the 2021 campaign.
• One minute later, Esparcia Cañada took a throw in from Kimi Casupang, dribbled towards the middle and got off a right-footer past Jones for her fourth of the game and ninth of the season, extending the Hawks lead to 7-1.
• Savanna Gonzalez closed out the scoring in the 74th minute when a Jorjorian corner kick went off the hands of Jones, and Gonzalez was there to tap the ball into the back of the net for her third of the season.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Esparcia Cañada finished with four goals on five shots.
• Taliana had a goal and an assist, and led the Hawks with nine shots.
• Jorjorian had a goal and an assist for a three-point afternoon.
• A combined team effort stifled the Eagles in the first half, in which Edgewood failed to register a shot.

Inside the Box Score

• The Scarlet Hawks held a decisive edge in shots 28-6. 
• Illinois Tech had the advantage in corner kicks, 6-0.
• Illinois Tech amassed 10 fouls in the contest, while Edgewood finished with 11.

Note: 

• Prior to the match, the Scarlet Hawks honored their seniors: Jamie Griggs, Erin James, Julie Honda, Caeli Kennedy, Taliana, Casupang, and Esparcia Canada

Up Next

• The Hawks will host the Concordia Chicago Cougars Wednesday at 7pm at Stuart Field in another NACC matchup.