GREENVILLE, PA. - After a streak of frustratingly close losses, the Franciscan University Lady Baron soccer team brought it all together Thursday night, beating Thiel College 3 – 1.

The win came after starting the season 1-4, including a 3-2 overtime loss just two days before.

"I am very, very proud of the girls. They trusted the system that we've been trying to play," said head coach Johann Marin. "They continue to trust me as their coach and most of all the girls to their left and their right."

The team's trust paid off as the Lady Barons played their most patient, composed and offensively diverse game of the season, despite starting their third string goalie and playing a few players at new positions.

Marin said that for the first time this season his team was able to control the ball in the midfield and make timely passes instead of forcing the ball down field.

"We scored more goals today because we were actually patient with the soccer ball and played a less direct style of soccer," Marin said. "Our offense was coordinated because they waited, instead of rushing the play."

The focus on coordinated play created better chances for multiple players on the Lady Baron attack to get scoring opportunities. Entering Thursday's game, one player had scored five out of the seven Lady Baron goals on the season. That player, sophomore Ashley Ruttencutter, added a sixth goal to her total in the seventy-sixth minute.

This time, however, she was only adding to the lead after a goal from freshman Lauren Stearman in the fourth minute and another from Katherine Roemer in the fifty-first minute made it 2 - 1.

"We're making it a point to not play through Ashley, because teams are going to cut her down and start double teaming her," Marin said about the importance of balanced scoring.

Franciscan's defense had an equally impressive performance protecting goalie Michele Volk, allowing just two shots on goal.

"It's been a very, very tough week for our team so we just want to thank everyone who has been praying for us, we'd like to thank the staff for supporting us, and we'd like to thank our trainer, Kelly Gaughan for getting our girls back to health," Marin said.

The Lady Barons will try for their third win of the season at home on Saturday, September 15th against Ohio Wesleyan at 1:00 pm.