MANNINO, GAUNA AND HOLTORF LEAD WOMEN’S SOCCER TO WIN OVER BETHANY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An offensive explosion led women's soccer to a 7-0 win over Bethany on Friday at The Z, thanks in part to two multi-goal scorers and a three-assist day from a senior captain.

The seven-goal outburst marked just the seventh time since 2007 that the program has put up seven or more goals in a single game and the first time since August 28, 2013.

A quiet opening 15 minutes saw the floodgates open after the first quarter of an hour.

In the 16^th minute, off a Joselyn Clark missed shot, junior Lydia Mannino got Clark's rebound and slammed it in to the back of the net for Avila's first goal of the afternoon.

Ten minutes later, Avila would add to its lead.

A great, 50-yard run from Annika Holtorf in the 26^th minute ended with the senior crossing it to reigning KCAC Offensive Player of the Week Nikki Wood who buried it for Avila's second goal.  

The first assist for Holtorf and the Eagles led by a pair.

Just five minutes later, Holtorf would get a goal of her own off a great feed from Samantha Lasater. A great run from the sophomore saw her use a brilliant right-foot pass right to Holtorf who knocked it in. 3-0 Avila.

It was just five minutes later when the Eagles struck again – by two likely candidates.

Off another perfect through ball from Holtorf, Maninno made a nearly 40-yard run and recorded a brace from just outside the 18-yard box. 4-0 Avila with still nearly 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Not much time has elapsed before the next Eagle score.

Freshman Daira Gauna scored the first goal of her collegiate career less than two minutes later off another great feed from Holtorf and Lauren Mueller.

With her assist to Gauna, Annika Holtorf scored or assisted on Avila's second, third, fourth and fifth goals of the afternoon.

The freshman was not done adding to the scoreboard.

In the 42^nd minute, off a Joselyn Clark blocked shot, Gauna gathered the rebound and found the back of the net to give Avila a 6-0 halftime lead and the second goal of her Avila career.

Avila took its foot off the gas in the second half with its lone goal coming with under 10 minutes to play.

Following a Bethany foul, freshman Lauren Shrout took a free kick quickly, taking the keeper by surprise and finding the back of the net to give Avila its seventh goal and wrap up a 7-0 victory.

Three standout individual performances came from the game with Lydia Mannino and Daira Gauna each recording two goals.

A three-assist, one-goal performance from Annika Holtorf marked one of the best all-around performances in program history. It is just the third three-assist performance from an Eagle since 2007, but it does give Avila back-to-back seasons with a three-assist game following Cali Lasater vs. Bethel in November 2024.

Avila's seven-goal margin of victory wouldn't be complete without a shutout performance from goalkeeper Shae Sweeney. It was the freshman's first collegiate shutout. 

With a huge start to KCAC play, Avila will look to extend its winning streak to three on Wednesday, traveling to Evangel with a 5 PM kickoff. The Eagles are back at The Z on Saturday, September 27 versus York at 1 PM.

 (photo credit: Victoria White)