Pride offense comes alive in second half of 4-0 win over Viterbo

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Just three days removed from their first win of the season, the Clarke University women's soccer team followed up their 5-0 win on Saturday with a 4-0 Tuesday night win over Viterbo University at Burrows Field.

The action got started early as the Pride got a sixth-minute score as Laryssa Pritchard was able to take advantage of a miscue from V-Hawks keeper, Veerle Vriens, that saw the ball roll behind Vriens for Pritchard to have an open net but she was taken down by Vriens, earning the VU keeper a red card and giving CU a penalty kick.

Pritchard would step to the penalty spot and bury the shot, making it 1-0 Clarke on Pritchard's second goal of the season.

That score would remain through the remainder of the first half despite Viterbo being down a player following the red card as CU would unsurprisingly control play with a 7-1 shot advantage in the half.

CU would cash in on an equal advantage of quality opportunities in the second half as Jayden Black, Hope Ward, and Corryn Wiggins all scored in the final frame to extend the Pride lead to its eventual final of 4-0.

Black and Ward both scored off of set pieces as Black was able to take a ball deflected off of a defender and cash in to double the lead in the 50th minute on Black's second goal of the season.

Ward's goal came from her signature header as Morgan Catchur took a corner in the 58th minute that found the head of Ward on the far post for Ward's first goal of the year on Catchur's second assist in as many games.

Wiggins capped the scoring in the 84th minute as a pair of nice hustle plays, first from Alia Nevarez on a nice turn and run down the right wing before sending a ball towards the box where Wiggins beat VU's third keeper of the game to the ball to have an open net that she wouldn't miss.

The one shot attempted by Viterbo in the first half would be all they would get in the entire game playing down a player for Clarke's second shutout in as many games.

Pride women's soccer will continue their busy early part of the 2024 season when they welcome Trinity Christian College to Burrows Field for a 3:00 PM CT start on Friday, Aug. 30.