DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Duhawks made a statement in their fifth consecutive game on the Rock Bowl on Saturday, beating the Buena Vista Beavers 6-0. Scoring for the Duhawks were Alexa Eggert (4'), Katie Truesdale (27'), Hanna Burgmeier (44'), Claire Murphy (56'), and Riley O'Neill (58'). The win moves the Duhawks to 1-1 in Iowa Conference play.
 
The Duhawks helped themselves with an early lead, thanks in part to slick aerial play. Junior Katie Truesdale dribbled to the end line and served her cross to the opposite post where senior Sarah Small was waiting. On the volley, Small returned the cross back across the front of goal where senior Alexa Eggert was waiting to head in the winner.
 
The Duhawks controlled the tempo keeping the ball mainly in the Beavers' half. They had a number of chances early on which resulted in their second goal of the day when Maddi Theisen fed Truesdale the ball through the Beavers' midfield. Truesdale ripped a shot from 35 yards out putting the ball past Buena Vista's goalkeeper, Rachel Novotny.
 
Buena Vista found one of their best scoring opportunities of the day in the 39' on a corner kick taken by Claire Arganbright. Arganbright's ball was served into the box where sophomore goalkeeper, Maria Siebels, was off her line. The ball made it over Siebels but was cleared out of danger by Theisen.
 
Hanna Burgmeier joined Eggert and Truesdale on the scoresheet in the 44' when she made a break up the far line and fed the ball to sophomore Mary O'Boyle, who returned the favor allowing Burgmeier to send the ball past Novotny for her first goal of the season.
 
The second half started off with an unfortunate turn of events for the Beavers when Sarah Small directed her shot to the far post, only to have two Buena Vista defenders collide, sending the ball into the back of the net for an own goal.
 
Six minutes later, sophomore Lizzy McWhinney made a break up the near line and her long touch was settled by freshman Maura Walsh, who crossed the ball into the box to an awaiting Murphy at the far post. Murphy then tucked her shot under the bar to increase the Loras lead to five.
 
Just two minutes after that, the Duhawks added to their lead on a free kick from 35 yards from goal. Freshman Riley O'Neill put her kick on frame, hitting the crossbar and benefiting from a bounce off of Novotny before going in for her first collegiate goal.
 
The Beavers had another promising opportunity in the 60' on a free kick just outside of the box. Senior Michelle Vonachen, who entered the game for the Duhawks to start the second half, lined up two Duhawks for her wall. Tori Carson stood over the ball for the Beavers and sent her ball to the back post where Vonachen was able to push it away from goal.
 
The two teams remained relatively quiet for the remainder of the game and the game ended 5-0 Duhawks.