By Reagan Thomas · Staff Writer
The Grove City College women’s soccer team delivered a performance to remember last Saturday afternoon at Don Lyle Field, rallying to produce a 7-0 victory over the Washington & Jefferson Presidents in a dominant senior day shutout.
The win capped the Wolverines’ regular-season home schedule and extended their unbeaten streak in conference play.
From the start, Grove City controlled every aspect of the game. Junior defender Meghan Tischler opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed shortly by a long-awaited moment for senior Karly Keller, who notched her first goal of the season to make it 2-0.
“When I scored my first goal this year, my teammates told me that my mouth dropped,” Keller said with a laugh. “Which explains that I was shocked, which I was, but at the same time I wasn’t shocked. For about three weeks, I have had a couple of good shots in each game. The shots I took weren’t terrible — they were close. This year, I have found myself more in the front third of the field and shooting a lot more than I normally would in past years; therefore, I started practicing that exact shot outside of practice time.”
That preparation paid off at the perfect time. Keller’s goal energized both the team and the crowd, and her celebration showed just how much it meant.
“I felt super loved by my teammates on the field and bench. I wanted to celebrate with all my teammates, no matter if they were on or off the field, because they have supported me and have been itching to see me score a goal,” Keller said.
Junior midfielder Tori Stevenson continued her strong 2025 scoring campaign with two goals —one in each half — which increases her total to 14 for the season and ties her for third in the PAC in both goals and points. Senior Anna Williams added another just before halftime to send the Wolverines into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
The second half was no different. Grove City’s offensive pressure didn’t slow, and their defensive line remained impenetrable. Freshman Lauren Muhanna added her name to the scoresheet before senior Hailey Muñoz scored her first goal of the season.
“It felt good to get a good shot off. But it felt even better seeing how excited all of my teammates were for me. If that is the last goal I score in my career, I can at least hang my boots up with a smile on my face and a good memory,” Muñoz said.
The Wolverines outshot W&J 30-20 and held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Junior goalkeeper Maddie Mills and freshman Ella Lotz combined for six saves to record the team’s eighth consecutive shutout. The clean sheet was another testament to Grove City’s defensive organization and chemistry, something Keller said comes from years of trust and shared effort.
“The key to the back line’s success has been trust. I know that the back line has each other’s back, and we all trust each other to fulfill our roles well. This trust wasn’t built overnight — it has come with time and getting to know each other on and even off the field,” Keller said. “We have an amazing connection that, I believe, most other teams don’t have. We know each other so well to the point where we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Before kickoff, Grove City honored its 11 seniors with a pregame ceremony, celebrating a class that has played a pivotal role in the team’s recent success. Each player was recognized for her leadership, faith and influence on the culture of the program. Muñoz reflected on what makes this senior class special.
“Our class will definitely leave a legacy in this program. Players like Natalie Giunta and Karly Keller will leave some holes on the field, but I have full confidence the underclassmen are ready to step up into those roles. Off the field our class, because it’s on a larger size, brings so many different personalities that each have their own unique gifts and roles on the team,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz also shared that what she’ll miss most isn’t the competition itself, but the people who made her four years unforgettable.
“I will honestly miss my teammates the most about playing here. Coach Lamie thankfully went out and recruited some of my best friends and not seeing them and messing around with them every day will be a change. My role on this team has never circulated around my playing time or stats, but the Lord placed me on this team for a reason, and He knew I needed these people,” Muñoz said.
The Wolverines’ dominant win improved their record to 10-4-2 overall and 9-0-1 in PAC play, securing their position at the top of the conference standings. They will face Waynesburg University on Wednesday night with the No. 1 seed on the line.
