Indiana University Athletics

Webber’s Haul of Goals Leads Hoosiers Past Hanover on Senior Day, 6-0
9/10/2023 6:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Graduate forward Paige Webber scored four goals in the Hoosiers, 6-0, win over Hanover on senior Sunday day at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana (6-0-2) took the lead in the 16th minute after Webber rebounded a shot and save at the far-right corner of the net. The Panthers' goalie dove for the save as the ball rolled out of her hands and Webber found the opening on the back side to put it away.
• Webber strikes again in the 21st minute after senior midfielder Anna Bennett sent a cross into the six-yard box where headed it into the net for the 2-0 lead.
• Freshman duo Elle Britt and Paige Droner moved the ball up the field before passing it inside the box to redshirt sophomore Ava Akeel who booted one in just outside the goalie box for her first goal of the season in the 41st minute.
• Indiana's defense closed the half with a 3-0 lead holding Hanover (2-1-1) to zero shots.
• Webber earned a hat trick as she scored in the 51st minute on a cross from freshman Kennedy Neighbors just inside the six-yard box.
• In the 58th minute, Webber notched her fourth goal of the match with a beautiful feed from Bennett out of the left side corner to extend the lead.
• Sophomore forward Sarah Sirdah added the last goal for the Hoosiers in the 65th minute off a cross from classmate Abbey Iler. Sirdah bolted to meet the pass before heading into the far left side of the net.
HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Paige Webber (16', 21', 51', 58'), Ava Akeel (41'), Sarah Sirdah (65')
ASSISTS: Anna Bennett (2), Elle Britt, Paige Droner, Kennedy Neighbors, Marisa Grzesiak, Abbey Iler
NOTABLES
• Webber set the single-game record for most goals scored in a game against the Panthers. She tied the previous record of three goals in the 2021 season alongside seven others. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native is ranked 11th in career goals with 15 as she passed Abby Smith and Kristen Zmijewski with 14.
• Indiana totaled 43 shots for the second most in program history. IU had 44 against Bowling Green on Sept. 12, 1997.
• IU tallied seven assists, tying the single game record that was set on Sept. 6, 1998, against IUPUI.
• Junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg earned a combined shutout with. She has five on the season and 20 her career. She is three shutouts from setting the program record of 23 which is held by former teammate Bethany Kopel.
• Britt, Droner, Neighbors, and Iler recorded their first assist of the season. Grzesiak earned her third on the year.
• Sirdah recorded her first career goal in her first appearance this season for the Hoosiers.
• Akeel scored her first goal of the season and the fourth of her career.
• Gerstenberg has six victories on the season, bringing her career total to 16 which is the eighth most career wins in program history.
QUOTABLES
Indiana head coach Erwin van Bennekom
"First of all, credit to Hanover. It says a lot about their program that they're going out of their way to come play us here. I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff, and the way they came out as well. They made it a battle today, and I thought they did well. We want to wish them the best of luck in their season. For us, our performance was clinical. We scored six goals and never really got into danger or gave any chances away. Overall, it was a good day and a great day to celebrate the seniors. It was our goal to win, stay healthy, celebrate the seniors and we did all of that."
UP NEXT
Indiana will have a week off as they gear up for Big Ten play. The Hoosiers will face Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+.
@IndianaWSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University women's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaWSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana (6-0-2) took the lead in the 16th minute after Webber rebounded a shot and save at the far-right corner of the net. The Panthers' goalie dove for the save as the ball rolled out of her hands and Webber found the opening on the back side to put it away.
• Webber strikes again in the 21st minute after senior midfielder Anna Bennett sent a cross into the six-yard box where headed it into the net for the 2-0 lead.
• Freshman duo Elle Britt and Paige Droner moved the ball up the field before passing it inside the box to redshirt sophomore Ava Akeel who booted one in just outside the goalie box for her first goal of the season in the 41st minute.
• Indiana's defense closed the half with a 3-0 lead holding Hanover (2-1-1) to zero shots.
• Webber earned a hat trick as she scored in the 51st minute on a cross from freshman Kennedy Neighbors just inside the six-yard box.
• In the 58th minute, Webber notched her fourth goal of the match with a beautiful feed from Bennett out of the left side corner to extend the lead.
• Sophomore forward Sarah Sirdah added the last goal for the Hoosiers in the 65th minute off a cross from classmate Abbey Iler. Sirdah bolted to meet the pass before heading into the far left side of the net.
HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Paige Webber (16', 21', 51', 58'), Ava Akeel (41'), Sarah Sirdah (65')
ASSISTS: Anna Bennett (2), Elle Britt, Paige Droner, Kennedy Neighbors, Marisa Grzesiak, Abbey Iler
NOTABLES
• Webber set the single-game record for most goals scored in a game against the Panthers. She tied the previous record of three goals in the 2021 season alongside seven others. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native is ranked 11th in career goals with 15 as she passed Abby Smith and Kristen Zmijewski with 14.
• Indiana totaled 43 shots for the second most in program history. IU had 44 against Bowling Green on Sept. 12, 1997.
• IU tallied seven assists, tying the single game record that was set on Sept. 6, 1998, against IUPUI.
• Junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg earned a combined shutout with. She has five on the season and 20 her career. She is three shutouts from setting the program record of 23 which is held by former teammate Bethany Kopel.
• Britt, Droner, Neighbors, and Iler recorded their first assist of the season. Grzesiak earned her third on the year.
• Sirdah recorded her first career goal in her first appearance this season for the Hoosiers.
• Akeel scored her first goal of the season and the fourth of her career.
• Gerstenberg has six victories on the season, bringing her career total to 16 which is the eighth most career wins in program history.
QUOTABLES
Indiana head coach Erwin van Bennekom
"First of all, credit to Hanover. It says a lot about their program that they're going out of their way to come play us here. I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff, and the way they came out as well. They made it a battle today, and I thought they did well. We want to wish them the best of luck in their season. For us, our performance was clinical. We scored six goals and never really got into danger or gave any chances away. Overall, it was a good day and a great day to celebrate the seniors. It was our goal to win, stay healthy, celebrate the seniors and we did all of that."
UP NEXT
Indiana will have a week off as they gear up for Big Ten play. The Hoosiers will face Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+.
@IndianaWSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University women's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaWSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
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