The top-seeded Central Methodist women’s soccer team took care of business Saturday night, blanking against eighth-seeded Baker 5-0 in the Heart Tournament quarterfinals on Davis Field.

The win ends the Wildcats’ season and punches the Eagles’ ticket to the Heart semifinals for the seventh consecutive year.

It didn’t take Central long to get on the board. The Eagles scored a pair of goals in the first six minutes of the match to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Larissa Ozorio cued up a corner kick and connected with fellow freshman and First Team All-Conference selection Mariana Barreto for the score.

Less than a minute later, and with the Eagles leading 1-0, freshman defender Nerea Munoz sent a ball in from 30 yards out that just went over the Baker keeper’s reach for the second goal of the match. It also marked Munoz’s third goal of the season.

In the 26th minute, Munoz connected with Heart Newcomer of the Year Kirstine Lykke, who flicked the ball into the back of the net for Central’s third goal.

The final goal of the first half came in the 38th minute when Andrea Jimenez sent a low cross into the box that found Lauren Berger. She tapped the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the year.

Just two minutes into the second half and leading 4-0, Central tallied their fifth and final goal of the match when Barreto scored her second goal off an assist from Kirstine Lykke. 

Central’s offensive pressure was too much for the Wildcats, as the Eagles controlled a majority of the possession and fired off 21 total shots, with 12 shots coming on goal. Baker finished the night with just four shots and two on goal. 

Lykke led the Eagle offense with five total shots, including a goal and an assist. Barreto picked up a brace in the win, with both of her shot selections finding the back of the net. It marks the freshman’s fourth multi-goal game of 2023.

Renee Berak, Ozorio, and Jimenez all picked up assists as well.

Candela Blanco Esteban played a full 90 minutes between the posts, picking up two saves en route to her 14th win of the year. 

Central hosts fourth-seeded Benedictine College in the semifinals at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) on Davis Field. Central won the regular-season match between the two sides by a final score of 2-1 back in mid-September.