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The Marietta College women’s soccer team delivered a historic performance Saturday, breaking multiple program records in a 10-1 victory over Muskingum University in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Marietta Field. With the win, the Pioneers improved to 6-8-2 overall and 3-3-0 in conference play. The loss puts Muskingum at 1-12-1 overall and 0-6 in the OAC.
The Pioneers’ 10 goals established a new school record for goals scored in a match, surpassing the previous mark of nine goals set against Waynesburg College in 1995. The victory also strengthened Marietta’s position in the race for their first Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament appearance since 2003.
Individually, Jaylyn Thornton matched a program record with five goals, tying the single-match mark established by Anne Eadie in 1999. Jailynn Woodruff added her name to the record book as well, setting a new Marietta single-game record with four assists. The Pioneers also established a new team record for assists in a match with six.
“More program records set,” said Marietta head coach Zack Votra. “An amazing way to celebrate our seniors.”
Before the match, the Pioneers had a special celebration for all nine of the seniors. Francesca Agliolo, Sarah Legg, Tati Grigoriyan, Delilah Vazquez, Myah Byers, Kira Korsak, Dilyn Hunley, Emily McCollough, and Carly Lutz were all honored and celebrated for their careers and contributions to the program.
In the first half, the Pioneers seized control almost immediately and never looked back. Just 95 seconds into the match, Woodruff opened the scoring when she found the back of the net at the 1:35 mark to put the Pioneers in front 1-0. The Pioneers continued to apply pressure, earning six corner kicks during the opening 13 minutes. Muskingum goalkeeper Gracyn Armstrong made saves on attempts by Shelby Carr and Thornton to keep the deficit at one.
After Francesca Agliolo turned away a pair of Muskingum chances from Maggie Short and Emma Morton, Marietta doubled its lead in the 14th minute. Woodruff delivered a pass to Shelby Carr, who scored at 13:51 to make it a 2-0 match.
The Pioneers struck again ten minutes later as Madelyn Call set up Thornton for her first goal of the afternoon at 22:23, extending the lead to 3-0. Thornton wasted little time adding another. Just 1:22 later, Byers found Thornton for her second goal of the game, pushing the advantage to 4-0 at the 23:45 mark.
Marietta continued to dominate possessions and eventually added one more goal before halftime. Katie Heighberger converted a pass from Lutz in the 34th minute to give the Pioneers a commanding 5-0 lead heading into the intermission.
The opening minutes of the second half belonged entirely to Thornton as she completed a combination from Claire Warren and Woodruff to extend the lead to 6-0. Just 62 seconds later, Thornton struck again. Woodruff collected her third assist of the afternoon on the goal at 46:31 as Marietta pushed the margin to 7-0 before the second half was even two minutes old.
Muskingum briefly generated offensive opportunities, forcing replacement Marietta goalkeeper Sarah Legg into saves on shots by Lindsay Davis and Savannah Howell. But the Pioneers quickly regained control.
Thornton completed her historic afternoon in the 55th minute when Woodruff delivered her fourth assist of the game and Thornton buried her fifth goal, making it 8-0. Following a corner kick in the 74th minute, Haley Dawicke connected with Grigoryan, who scored to make it 9-0. At 75:20, Hunley found the net for the 10th Pioneer goal of the afternoon, giving Marietta sole possession of the school record and capping one of the most prolific offensive performances in program history.
Muskingum avoided the shutout in the 84th minute when Emma Morton scored for the Fighting Muskies. Legg answered with a save on another Morton attempt in the 86th minute to preserve the final 10-1 margin.
Marietta finished with a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 9-4 edge in corner kicks. Agliolo and Legg combined for six saves in goal.
Marietta returns to action Wednesday evening when the Pioneers host Otterbein University at 7 p.m. in the final home match of the 2026 season. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
MEN'S SOCCER
Muskingum scored in the third minute of the match and went on to defeat Marietta College by the score of 3-1 Saturday afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer action. The Pioneers fall to 4-7-3 overall and 2-3-1 in the OAC. Muskingum is now 9-5-2 on the season and 1-4-1 in the OAC.
A Pioneer foul near midfield led to a free kick for Muskingum. Kanon Riehl dropped the kick into the 6-yard box to Darrik Hall, who was cutting across the goal mouth and put the ball in the back of the net for his first goal of the season. The score came just over two minutes into the match.
Marietta found itself down two goals in the 23rd minute. Anderson Elliot scored an unassisted goal for a 2-0 Muskie lead.
The Pioneers quickly responded with a goal in the 26th minute cutting the deficit to one, 2-1. Landon Stonestreet sent a corner kick into the box to Rowan Brown for the goal.
Muskingum added an insurance goal in the 58th minute off another set piece. Deaton Shade took the free kick this time and sent it into the box where Jonathan Gonzalez got a head on it, directing the ball to Elliot who finished it off for his second goal of the match.
While the Muskie offense was building the two-goal lead, Muskingum’s defense was keeping the Marietta attackers at bay. Goalkeeper Lucas Matesic posted three saves in the match.
Marietta outshot the Muskies, 11-7, and had a considerable 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. But the Pioneers couldn’t beat the Muskie defense and get back in the match.
Marietta plays at Otterbein on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
NEW CONCORD - Marietta College battled throughout the matchup, including a near-set victory in the second frame, but host Muskingum held off the Pioneers for a 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-20) Ohio Athletic Conference win Saturday.
With the defeat, Marietta drops to 15-8 overall and 4-2 in the OAC. Muskingum improves to 17-6 and 3-3 in conference play.
Marietta opened the match with energy, racing to a 5-1 advantage behind a kill from McKenzie Heil, a service ace from Keatyn Haynes, and consecutive points from Karly Launder. The Pioneers maintained control through the early portion of the set and led 7-2 after a Muskingum attack error. The Muskies, however, quickly shifted momentum, scoring seven straight points and turning a five-point deficit into a 9-7 lead. Marietta stayed within striking distance, cutting the deficit to 12-10 on a Emily Piehler kill and later trimming the margin to 16-15 following a Launder kill and a Jayden Austermiller ace. That would be as close as the Pioneers would get. Muskingum closed the set with a dominant 9-1 stretch and sealed the 25-16 set one victory.
Muskingum jumped out quickly in set two, scoring the first five points and building an 8-2 advantage. The Pioneers responded with one of their best stretches of the match. Austermiller ignited a six-point run from the service line that included back-to-back aces and an AnnaBelle Hacker kill, helping Marietta erase the deficit and tie the score at 8-8. The teams traded points throughout the middle of the set. Muskingum maintained a slim lead and eventually stretched the margin to 20-16 after consecutive MJ Rupp service aces. Marietta refused to go away. Launder started the comeback with a kill and later added a service ace. Piehler delivered a key kill to bring the Pioneers within 22-21 before kills from Kendyl Cannon and Piehler tied the score at 24-24. With the set on the line, Sophia Keller hammered down a kill for set point, and Sydney Gummer followed with another kill to complete a 26-24 Muskie set two win.
The third set featured multiple lead changes and appeared headed for another tight finish. After the teams traded points early, Marietta used kills from Launder and Piehler along with several Muskingum errors to build a 14-10 cushion. Muskingum answered as Mackenzie Krous sparked an 8-0 run that completely flipped the scoreboard. The Muskies erased the four-point deficit and surged ahead 18-14 thanks to a service ace, several Marietta attack errors, and kills from Gummer and Mya Leach. Marietta continued to battle. Cannon recorded a key kill, Hacker added another, and a Kamryn Haynes service ace cut the deficit to 22-19. After a Muskingum point, a Keller ball-handling error brought the Pioneers within three at 23-20. The Muskies closed the door from there. Keller registered a kill for match point, and Alexis Bradley finished the contest with a service ace to secure the 25-20 victory.
Launder and Piehler paced the Marietta attack with eight kills apiece, while Jayden Austermiller contributed three service aces and nine assists. Heil and Hacker added four kills apiece. Elyse Smith led the teams with 11 assists. Defensively, Kamryn Haynes and Sarah Podkul each recorded nine digs.
Marietta returns home this Wednesday for one of its most important matches of the OAC season when the Pioneers welcome Otterbein to Ban Johnson Arena. The matchup is set to begin at 7 p.m.