New Wilmington, PA – The Heidelberg University women's soccer team outlasted the Titans of Westminster College in a tight 2-1 battle to extend its win streak to seven.
 
The Student Princes improve to 7-1 overall marking the second-best start in program history. The 1996 squad began the year 9-0 en route to an NCAA playoff berth.
 
The loss marks the Titans first setback of the year, moving the Westminster women to 6-1-1 as they begin Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) competition on Wednesday. 
 
Following a grind-it-out, 2-1, win over a talented squad from St. Mary's College on Saturday, the Student Princes traveled to Western Pennsylvania for their final non-conference clash of the 2021 campaign.
 
Early on the Berg jumped out in front yet again, as the tri-color are outscoring opponents 14-5 in the first half. In the 13^th minute, senior Bekah Thomas collected her second goal of the season, poaching a deflection off of Westminster netminder Camille Holzschuh.
 
The one-goal advantage would quickly double as Victoria Perez netted her second goal of the campaign. Following a Westminster hand ball inches outside of the penalty area in the Berg's attacking end, Perez capitalized on the set piece and rifled a shot past Holzschuh.
 
With the Berg on top 2-0, Westminster's Natalie Vilchek cut the Titan deficit in half before the break. A loose ball in the Berg's penalty area found the feet of Vilchek, who poked a low shot past Heidelberg keeper, junior Meredith Bruce.
 
Bruce, fresh off of Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week accolades, turned in another stellar performance in net with 15 saves against Westminster, elevating her season total to 56. Her 15 stops ties a career-high set against Otterbein back in March (3/28/21). Bruce's 56 total saves currently sits second in the OAC while the Cincinnati native boasts a conference-best .875 save percentage. 
 
While the Berg goals came from Thomas and Perez, it was Audrey Kaufman and Lexi Foley who led the attacking effort with three shots each. Offensive OAC Player of the Week Makenzie Damsa finished with two shots in the victory along with Perez. Thomas' goal came from her lone attempt on net.
 
From Interim Head Coach Maddie McLaughlin:
"Respect. That's exactly what this team just earned. Respect from any team we face. These ladies are connected and believing in what we are trying to do. Going on the road to beat an undefeated and very talented team shows exactly that. I couldn't be more proud of this group. We had a great non-conference, but now it's time to start focusing on OAC play and continue to prove Heidelberg women's soccer deserves respect."
 
Heading into OAC competition, the Student Princes hold the best record (7-1) amongst OAC counterparts, followed by Otterbein (5-1).
 
The Heidelberg women open OAC action on Saturday, October 2, when they travel to Wilmington College to take on the Quakers. Kick off from Wilmington is now slated for 5 p.m. to accommodate referee availability.