SOUTH BEND, Ind. — IU Northwest women's soccer turned in its most dominant performance of the season Wednesday, defeating IU South Bend 7-0 at Newton Park behind a hat trick from junior Gabby Maldonado.
The RedHawks (5-2-4, 3-1-1 CCAC) wasted little time, with Maldonado opening the scoring in the 9th minute before freshman Ava Haluska tallied her first collegiate goal in the 13th to make it 2-0. IU Northwest carried the two-goal advantage into halftime after outshooting the Titans 15-2.
The RedHawks exploded in the second half, beginning with a 51st-minute strike from Xiomara Santana, assisted by Piper Ellenberger. Maldonado added two more goals in the 56th and 66th minutes, completing her first collegiate hat trick. Erin Harrison scored in the 75th minute, and Emma Skalka capped the scoring in the 85th with her first goal of the season.
IU Northwest outshot IU South Bend 22-7 and forced goalkeeper Maddie Stark into seven saves. Isabel Escalera recorded three saves for the clean sheet, the RedHawks' fourth shutout of the year.
IU Northwest returns home Saturday, Oct. 4, for a 3:30 p.m. match against Judson University at East Chicago Central High School. The game marks the kickoff of Student-Athlete Mental Health Week in partnership with Hilinski's Hope.