Witthauer Scores Four Goals as WPU Thumps Coe in Home Opener

Oskaloosa--Taylor Witthauer (Sr., Vancouver, Wash., Nursing) had a nose for the goal Wednesday as the Statesmen women's soccer team defeated Coe 7-2 in non-conference play.

WPU (2-1), which held a 25-8 advantage in shots, posted its highest goal total since 2019 when it also scored seven times against Hannibal-LaGrange.

Goals came quick and often for the navy and gold, beginning at the 1:20 mark with Witthauer collecting a pass and popping a shot over the head of the Coe goalkeeper who was well off her line.

Eleven minutes later, Lacie Kirkle (Jr., Altoona, Iowa, Undecided) played a ball up the line that Witthauer reached first.  The senior then bee-lined for the goal and slipped a shot into the near post for her second goal, tying her personal best.

Her personal mark would fall in the 16th minute as Kirkle and Witthauer again linked up for a goal.  Witthauer's hat trick is her first and the 29th in program history (first since 2019).

After a Kohawk goal in the 25th minute, Witthauer attacked again, but this time as the passer.  Her corner kick at the 35:43 juncture was headed home by Olivia Walker (So., Caro, Mich., Biology).

Up 4-1 at intermission, the Statesmen continued to pour it on in the second stanza.  Emma Brandt (Fr., Cologne, Germany, Sports Management) flicked the ball out of the defensive backfield and Witthauer chased it down and eventually deposited it into the netting just 35 seconds into the period.

Less than five minutes down the road, Georgia Murphy (Sr., Liverpool, England, Exercise Science) took a deflected corner kick and headed it past the goalie.

Coe tallied its second and last goal in the 61st minute, but WPU had the final say as Ana Medina-Suazo (Jr., San Jose, Calif., Nursing) sent a corner kick into the box and Walker put a head on it, redirecting it into the goal for her second score of the night with 4:33 remaining on the clock.

Witthauer, who is just the seventh player in school history with four goals in a game, had seven shots, while Jacque Schwager (So., Bondurant, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) was also active with four attempts.

Madeline Danielson (Jr., La Crescent, Minn., Exercise Science) stopped two shots in the victory.

"This was a good overall game for us," Head Coach Andy Commins said.  "It was nice to score some goals and have the opportunity to play people in different positions.  That experience will pay dividends heading into conference play.  This team continues to improve every game and I think we showed that tonight."

Next: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Sunday to host Briar Cliff in non-conference action at 1 p.m.