For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – Sullivan Boulden scored three goals to pace No. 2 Archmere to a 4-0 win over Wilmington Friends in a key Division II soccer showdown on April 20.
Boulden now has three hat tricks in the Auks’ last four games, and she stayed hot in this contest. She scored her first goal off a corner kick in the 12th minute. Boulden played the ball in to Julia Jogani, who fed it back to her, and Boulden drilled the ball from a sharp angle over the keeper’s head into the far corner.
“We have been practicing that play,” Boulden said. “Our coach loves set pieces, and the best part was seeing the smile on his face.”
The Quakers responded by putting some pressure on Archmere, and a few corner kicks of their own, but Auks goalkeeper Kyra Giakas kept Friends off the board with a couple of nice saves.
Boulden struck again in the 32nd minute, this time off a pass from Karena Wursthorn. Boulden received the ball and used her speed to get by the defenders to double the lead.
The Quakers controlled possession early in the second half, but they could not cut the lead. Boulden made them pay in the 55th minute, giving the Auks some breathing room. Jogani had the assist again. Leah DaCosta added a goal three minutes later, with Jogani getting the helper once more, to account for the final margin.
The Auks outshot the Quakers, 14-6, and Boulden said some changes by Archmere have played a part.
“We have been playing better offensively and defensively since coach changed up the formation,” she said.
The Auks (5-0-1) host Sanford on Saturday at 11 a.m. Friends (2-5) hosts St Thomas More on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
