By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - A second half offensive attack gave the Scarlet Hawk women's soccer team a 6-1 victory over the Aurora University Spartans in Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) play. The duo of Clàudia Martí Fanlo and Lucy Vanveldhuisen led the Hawks to their 10th overall victory and 5th NACC victory. For the season, the Hawks are now 10-2-1 overall and 5-1-1 in conference play. With the conference victory, the Hawks now find themselves in fourth place in NACC rankings. 

How It Happened

• After controlling most of the half, the Hawks were able to put the ball in the goal at the 39th minute mark. Lucy Vanveldhuisen sent the ball into the opposite corner of the 6-yard box where Clàudia Martí Fanlo was able to reach her foot out past her defender to get a touch on the ball. The touch was enough to throw off the Spartans goalkeeper as the ball slid past her and into the opposite side netting. The Hawks entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.

• Coming out of halftime, the Hawks continued their offensive control, this time finding the goal multiple times. The first goal of the half and second goal of the game came off the head of Vanveldhuisen in the 51st minute. Vanveldhuisen's header goal was assisted by a Martí Fanlo cross at the top of the 6-yard box.

• The Hawks went up 3-0 six minutes later with a goal by Kelly Hitchcock. Hitchcock scored off Vanveldhuisen assist when Vanveldhuisen passed the ball into the 6-yard. Hitchcock was able to run onto the ball and tap it in to keep the Hawks goal scoring going. 

• The goals continued to come as Martí Fanlo recorded her second of the game in the 65th minute. After beating her defender on the goal-line, Martí Fanlo ripped a shot from just outside the 6-yard box and into the opposite side netting to make it a 4-0 game. 

• Less than one minute later, Vanveldhuisen scored her second goal of the game from another Martí Fanlo assist. Martí Fanlo sent the ball in the air and across the goal line to where Vanveldhuisen volleyed it past the goalkeeper to give the Hawks a 5-0 lead. 

• The Hawks sixth goal then came in the 78th minute. Kenzie Tokuchi got in on the goalscoring as she received the ball inside the 18-yard box, shook off her defender with a pull-back move, and fired a shot over the Spartans goalkeeper's hands. 

• Aurora got on the board in the 80th minute. Sydney Kranick gave the Spartans their lone goal with a shot inside the 18-yard box and into the lower left corner past the Hawks diving goalkeeper. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Clàudia Martí Fanlo and Lucy Vanveldhuisen had themselves a game for the Hawks to help lead the team to victory. Both Martí Fanlo and Vanveldhuisen ended the match with two goals and two assists. Martí Fanlo assisted Vanveldhuisen on both of her goals while Vanveldhuisen assisted Martí Fanlo on one of her goals. 

• Vanveldhuisen led the team with six shots, three of which were on frame. 

• Hitchcock and Tokuchi each netted one goal. 

Inside the Box Score

• Illinois Tech outshot Aurora 28-4. The Hawks didn't allow the Spartans a single shot in the first half. 

• 13 Hawks recorded a shot during the contest.

• Of the Hawks 28 shots, 13 were on goal. Only 1 of the Spartans shots was on frame.

• Corner kicks were 14-3 in favor of the Hawks.

• Throughout the contest, the Hawks picked up 11 fouls while the Spartans had none.

Up Next 

Illinois Tech returns to Stuart Field on Saturday when they welcome the St. Norbert College Green Knights. The NACC contest will kick-off at 3:30 p.m.