FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Madonna University men's soccer continued its recent momentum Wednesday evening, earning a convincing 3-0 victory over the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium.
The win marked the second consecutive victory for the Crusaders, who improved to 3-2-0 on the season and continued to build momentum early in the campaign. Madonna controlled much of the contest, outshooting Saint Francis 11-6 and holding the Cougars without a goal throughout the 90 minutes.
Madonna's offense took some time to break through, but the Crusaders finally found the back of the net in the 41st minute.
Avery Topinka provided the breakthrough, scoring the opening goal of the match to give Madonna a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Topinka's goal came after Madonna had created several opportunities throughout the opening half. The Crusaders recorded six shots during the first 45 minutes and forced Saint Francis goalkeeper Alexis Pokley into three saves.
Madonna carried its momentum into the second half and doubled its advantage in the 52nd minute.
Chelsey Chambless found the back of the net to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead and put additional pressure on the Cougars.
Saint Francis attempted to find a way back into the match, but Madonna's defense remained composed. The Cougars managed just three shots in the second half, with only one requiring a save from Madonna goalkeeper
Addison Beil.
As the clock continued to wind down, the Crusaders added one final insurance goal in the 87th minute.
Rylie Cassette scored late to push Madonna's advantage to 3-0 and officially put the match out of reach.
The Crusaders finished with 11 shots, including six on target, while Saint Francis managed six shots with just two on goal. Madonna also earned two corner kicks and limited the Cougars to four.
Topinka led Madonna with two shots and a goal, while Chambless recorded three shots and a goal of her own. Cassette added the third goal on one of Madonna's final attacking opportunities of the night.
In goal, Madonna utilized both
Grace McCormick and Beil, with each goalkeeper playing 45 minutes. The duo combined for two saves and, more importantly, recorded Madonna's first clean sheet of the season.
The victory gives the Crusaders back-to-back wins after opening the season with two defeats. Madonna will look to keep that momentum rolling as the season continues. The Crusaders will look to extend their winning streak when they take on newly formed women's soccer program from Wayne State University on Sunday, September 6th, 2026 at 10:30 AM. The game will be held at MU Soccer and Lacrosse Field in Livonia, Mich.
