SAM DITTMANN / The Journal
Junior midfielder Kelsey McClure moves the ball upfield Sept. 1 against Millikin University. McClure saw her single-season scoring record fall to teammate Christy Capkovic in the Gorloks’ 4-2 win over Greenville College Oct. 24.
By JONATHAN WEBB
Most Webster University students spent their fall break meeting with family and enjoying a restful week away from classes.
Christy Capkovic used it to resume her assault on the women’s soccer records.
In back-to-back games last week, the junior forward surpassed Niki Martinez’s career scoring record of 58 goals and broke teammate Kelsey McClure’s single-season mark of 24 goals.
The single-season record fell in the final game of a three-game week for WU, which saw the Gorloks post a 2-1 record.
WU opened the week with a 2-1 loss in double-overtime to Elmhurst College on Oct. 18, before following with wins over St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes Spalding University and Greenville College 9-0 and 4-2, respectively.
Late in the first half, Capkovic approached the goal near the left wing and nudged a shot that trickled just inside the left goalpost for the record-breaker.
Capkovic has been scoring at a torrid pace in her third year with the Gorloks, as her 25 goals have been scored in just 14 games.
Capkovic may have scored the record-breaking tally in the win over Greenville, but the offensive star was fellow junior forward Megan Niederschulte, who notched the Gorloks’ other three tallies.
Two came in the second half, when the Gorloks responded emphatically to the Panthers’ early 1-0 lead.
“We have been really struggling in the second half this year,” Niederschulte said. “We talked at half and said, ‘We are not going to let this one go.’”
Niederschulte’s scoring binge also allowed her to move up the Gorloks’ career scoring list.
Her 17 goals this year moved her past sister Shaina Niederschulte’s career total of 38 goals for fifth place on the school’s all-time list.
The win carried a bit more meaning to the Gorloks than against most SLIAC opponents, as the Panthers defeated WU 2-1 in the two teams’ previous meeting.
“There was a lot of revenge factor,” Niederschulte said. “We had to beat them for this year, and also get back at them for last year.”
While two juniors scored the team’s four goals, the day belonged to WU’s seniors, who were honored before the game.
Seniors Kristin Garlich, Jenna Steiner, Dana Vahey and Jessica Schellerup were presented with framed jerseys before the 4-2 win.
“They’re a special group,” coach Luigi Scire said. “I hope they go as far as they can possibly go.”
While the game may have represented the end of the seniors’ home slate, there is much more to be accomplished in 2009, as WU looks to compete for a SLIAC championship.
“Like ‘Weege’ (Scire) kept telling me, this was the last home game, but we still have a lot to do this season,” Steiner said.
The win over Greenville moved the Gorloks to 11-3 (4-1 SLIAC).
The Gorloks will face Westminster College, MacMurray College and Eureka College next week before the team begins the SLIAC tournament Nov. 5.
