FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team cruised to a 6-0 victory over West Liberty at home on Wednesday evening.
 
FSU nearly had a chance within the first five minutes, as sophomore Mollie Rebuck would have been played through on goal, however she was wrestled to the ground just over the halfway line, resulting in a Hilltopper yellow card. The Bobcats continued to dominate possession, as junior Madison Hinton tried her luck from distance but shot straight at keeper Cianna Butera.
 
After back-to-back corner kicks, Frostburg thought they had the lead on two occasions, but Hinton was denied by a flying Butera save followed by a goal-line clearance, while senior Mary Greco cannoned a shot off the crossbar and out for another corner. WLU got their first chance 11 and a half minutes in, as Maya Taggart ran through on a counter-attack and did well to cut in on her left foot, but her shot was easily gathered by sophomore netminder Kayla Doty.
 
Three minutes later, FSU finally got their breakthrough, as sophomore Ainsley Wilson made a surging run down the right wing and crossed into the box, received the rebound, and sent another ball in right onto the head of classmate Cassidy Paige, who planted it past Butera into the far post for a 1-0 lead. Rebuck then had an effort blocked while Hinton sent one wide as the Bobcats continued to generate chances.
 
Wilson had another ball into the box that Butera had to parry away, then Paige had a tamer header that was gathered by Butera and both Hinton and sophomore Madison Hobson went off target with shots. Greco was the next to try her luck from deep but was also too close to the West Liberty keeper, then with five minutes to go until the break, senior Jayme Sooy was superb in pressing WLU into a mistake, which left sophomore Elena Fernandez wide open in front of goal, passing easily in for a 2-0 halftime advantage.
 
Frostburg's dominance continued into the second half, as Greco, Paige, and Hinton all were able to fire shots away within the first five minutes. It took just another five minutes for senior Morgan Mrizek to send a great cross to the middle of the box, where sophomore Ana Davis was able to help the ball over the line for a 3-0 score. Hobson was then denied by Butera, while Mrizek had a powerful free kick low to the ground that Butera pounced on to keep out.
 
Greco continued to get opportunities to fire away, as she saw another shot saved before Davis was pulled down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. It would be Greco to step up, as Butera went the right way but couldn't catch up to a powerful-enough shot and FSU's fourth of the day. Junior Chelsea Pettyjohn and senior Hannah Clagett both went in search of a fifth, but Butera stood tall twice within a three-minute span.
 
As time ticked down to 12 minutes left, West Liberty went on a rare attack forward and won a free kick about 25 yards from goal, where Doty made a flying save to her left in helping to preserve the shutout bid. On the resulting corner, she made a follow-up stop off a header in denying the Hilltoppers their chances.
 
With just over five to go, a trio of Bobcat substitutes made their marks, as freshman Emma Hostetler ran onto a through ball from classmate Molly Colbert and finished well on a volley for FSU's fifth. Colbert then again turned provider, sending a ball in that came back off the far post, as another first-year player in Abbey Robrecht had a great finish into the top corner on her left foot for the 6-0 final.
 
Frostburg held a 29-4 advantage in shots, with 17 on target compared to three for the visitors.
 
With the win, FSU improves to 3-2-1 on the year with their first MEC victory, while WLU drops to 0-6. The Bobcats next hit the road to face Point Park on Saturday, September 27 at 11 a.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.