There were two reasons Kayla Monick once again found her way into the Mustangs’ starting lineup Friday night: The junior has been pressing well from her forward position and she’s presented herself as a consistent threat to score.

Friday, she proved especially dangerous.

Monick scored in the third minute and The Master’s University women’s soccer team went on to a 2-0 win over the University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster, California.

Master’s has gone unbeaten in its last three games and Monick has been impactful in all three – even when she didn’t score.

Coach Curtis Lewis said he felt Monick might have been the team’s best forward in the Mustangs’ 7-0 win over Providence Christian College on Monday. She didn’t find the net in her first start of 2019, but she had an assist and she was active all over the field. “She was everywhere,” Lewis said.

Monick – who played in 11 games, with one start, last season – credits her teammates for her recent production.

“They are so incredibly encouraging and supportive, and they work so hard,” she said. “I just want to give my 100 percent like they all do.”

In the fourth minute, Monick received tangible support from a teammate.

Suzanne Mabie drove down the right side of the field and drilled a low cross that Monick was perfectly positioned to redirect into the net. It was Monick’s second goal of the season, and, again, she was quick to turn the attention to others.

“Suzanne crossed an absolutely beautiful ball to me in the middle of the box,” she said. “I ran onto it, got my right foot on it, and after all of Suzanne’s hard work, I had to make sure I put that ball in the back of the net.”

It was TMU’s lone goal until freshman Elizabeth Radmilovich scored for the first time in her collegiate career in the 81st minute. The Mustang defense kept Antelope Valley off the scoreboard in the meantime. TMU goalie Lacey Lehman made seven saves, which matched a season high. In the first half, she provided a crucial stop on a breakaway opportunity, and another Pioneer shot bounced off the post.

“We scored early and then we shut off,” Lewis said. “I felt like UAV dominated us the first half after about 15 minutes. … They could have been up 2-1 if things go differently.”

Instead, the Mustangs went on the attack after halftime, taking back control by playing directly and getting behind the Pioneer defense.

Lewis felt senior Sarah Stead was particularly crucial in turning the tide. He said it was the best soccer he’d seen her play as a Mustang.

“She was being dangerous, driving, pressing, getting in on tackles, being a very complete player and using her giftings and talents really, really well,” Lewis said. “She was very dynamic.”

Here’s the box score.

— Game Recap By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director