Box Score 1 Kearney, Neb. – Freshman Megan Merkel scored three points and redshirt freshman Allie Prososki recorded a shutout in her first collegiate start as Nebraska-Kearney beat William Jewell College, 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

This was the early game of the UNK Fall Classic. Rockhurst (Mo.) University beat Sioux Falls, 2-0, in the night cap finish the weekend 2-0. The Hawks thus took home the team trophy.

Controlling the action and pushing the tempo from first kick, UNK had two corners in the first five minutes. The Lopers struck pay dirt in the 10^th minute after some tough defense forced the Cardinals (0-1-1) to send an errant pass deep in its own territory.

Merkel (Millard West H.S.) was happy to oblige as she grabbed the loose ball and scored her first collegiate goal from about 20 yards out.

"It was just a great feeling (to score first collegiate goal). It came from good team defense and I just happened to be in the right spot," said Merkel. "I knew I had people coming on me quickly and I had to get the shot off."

In the 62nd minute, after a Kearney throw in, Merkel found sophomore Michaela Hoffman (Fruita, Colo.) open on the left wing. The two-sport start managed to beat WJC keeper Lindsey Magnum by going top shelf for her first career goal.

UNK ended the day with an advantage in shots (13-7), corners (8-4) and fouls (17-6). Both Hoffman and sophomore Emily Kosch (Columbus Scotus H.S.) had two shots on goal.

"The girls were really disappointed with themselves Friday night. Because we had such a great preseason and then we were just flat for some reason," said Loper head coach John Maessner. "But today was just the opposite. This is the way we're going to play this year. We knew we weren't going to step on the field today and not give everything we had on every single play."

Replacing a banged up Ali Hirschman (Millard South H.S.) in goal, Prososki made five saves to record her first collegiate win. Last season, the Kearney Catholic graduate was a member of the basketball team but then joined soccer for the spring season.

Four Lopers made the all-tournament team, as chosen by the four head coaches. They were Hoffman, Merkel, Prososki and junior Carly Brown (Omaha Skutt H.S.).

"We won't lose many games playing like that. We were all over them right away and there's no reason we can't do that against everyone we play," said Maessner.

UNK hosts Wayne State Wednesday night at Cope Stadium.

All-Tourney Team
Carly Brown, UNK
Michaela Hoffman, UNK
Megan Merkel, UNK
Allie Prososki, UNK

Meghan Kilkenny, Rockhurst (MVP)
Kaley Nieters, Rockhurst
Courtney Silberberg, Rockhurst
Brandi Vollmer, Rockhurst
Alyson Galler, William Jewell
Aspen Hawkins, William Jewell
Jackie Montes, Sioux Falls