HIRAM, Ohio – October 19, 2024 – For the first time since 2019, the Hiram women's soccer team knocked off an NCAC opponent as part of a 2-0 victory over Kenyon on Saturday late afternoon at Henry Field in Hiram, Ohio. It also marks the program's first ever victory in the all-time matchup against the Owls, which dates back to 1992.

The mastery of the corner kick proved to be the difference, as Hiram scored both of its goals off corner kicks from Sydney Ladage in the 12^th and 16^th minutes.

Mackenzie Morrison scored the first of the two goals, finding the middle of the box and using a header to break the scoring barrier. Bella Simmons also found a crease in the box, using her left foot on a high arcing corner kick from Ladage to find the back of the net and grow the advantage to two, which would hold the rest of the way.

Ladage was awarded the assist on both plays and now has a team-high five assists this season, which also makes them the ninth different student-athlete in program history to reach that mark in a single season. Courtney Cosley (2007) and Jessica Knight (2004) each had seven assists in a single season, which is the current Terriers single-season record.

Simmons leads Hiram with four goals this season and  Morrison joined Simmons and Reagan Mory as the third Terriers student-athlete to have multiple goals in 2024. As a team, the Terriers have already matched their goal total (12) from all of last season.

After the early scoring burst, Hiram won the rest of the match thanks to its defense. The team faced 30 shots (11 on target), none of which crossed the path of goalkeeper Emma Deffenbaugh. Deffenbaugh finished the afternoon with 11 saves and recorded her second career shutout in just 11 starts.

Briana Troyan and Hailey Eastwood each played the full 90 minutes in front of Deffenbaugh in the defensive effort, while Kali Baker, Caitlin Tucker and Becca Devericks also applied pressure on the offensive end with a shot on goal apiece.

With the victory, the Terriers have a 1-3 conference record and are now in seventh place in the NCAC, with Wooster (2-2) and Wittenberg (1-1-1) within striking distance and still on Hiram's remaining schedule for the fall.

The Terriers will play those Fighting Scots on Tuesday, when they travel to Carl Dale Field for a late afternoon battle at 4 p.m. in Wooster, Ohio.