HARRISONBURG, Va. - Before spring break, the Royals had a little bit of business to attend to, as they welcomed in the Tornados of Brevard College. 

Ava Walker netted seven goals, one off tying the EMU single-game record, Courtney Crawford and Bailey Freeman each had a hat trick and six different Royals scored as EMU downed Brevard, 18-10. 

Records: EMU 1-3, 0-0 ODAC | Brevard 0-3, 0-0 USA South

Highlights

First Quarter

• The Royals offense came out slinging, picking up four shots in the first three minutes. They finally got on the board in the 10th minute when Walker took a pass at the top of the box, split a pair of defenders going to her right, and beat the keeper for a 1-0 Royals lead. Less than a minute later, after a Tornado turnover, Ainsley Clark put EMU ahead 2-0 when she took a pass from Alex Palizzi and scored, netting her second goal of the season. 
• At the 8:51 mark, after Brevard was called for a foul, Amber Bonds' free position shot beat the keeper high and to the right, for a 3-0 lead. Brevard got one back 30 seconds later, but with six minutes left in the frame, Walker scored her second of the game, off another assist from Palizzi, to re-extend EMU's lead to three. 
• In the final minute, after Brevard cut the Royals lead to two, Freeman notched her first goal of the game, going to her left past the defender and giving EMU a 5-2 lead after one. 

Second Quarter

• Brevard cut into the EMU lead with a goal at the 11:16 mark, but EMU answered with back-to-back goals: one from Walker on a free position shot and one from Crawford, for a 7-3 lead. Walker's fourth of the game pushed EMU's lead to five with 8:46 left in the quarter. 
• Cristal Narciso picked up two saves to start the quarter, keeping Brevard to just one goal until the Tornados were able to tack on two within 40 seconds of each other, pulling back within three, 8-5. But EMU was done as Crawford scored again right before the half and sent the teams to the break with EMU leading 9-5.

Third Quarter

• The third quarter was even, as both teams were able to add two goals to their total. The Tornados struck first, halving their deficit with a pair of goals in the opening seven minutes of the third. 
• Walker struck two more times in the third, however, pushing EMU's lead back to four. The first came after Freeman forced a turnover, picked up the ground ball and found Walker for the goal, and Freeman's first assist. Next, Shayleigh Sims' pass got to Walker who buried it, putting the Royals on top 11-7 through 45 minutes. 

Fourth Quarter

• EMU went on an offensive onslaught to start the fourth, with Freeman, Bonds, Crawford and Walker each scoring in the first four minutes and 20 seconds of the fourth quarter. EMU gained a running clock with back-to-back goals from Freeman and Crawford, giving each of them a hat trick, before Kayla Lindsay added a goal, her first of the season, to round out the Royals scoring. 
• EMU's defense was strong in the fourth, as they allowed just four shots on goal in the final 15 minutes. 

Statistical Leaders
Walker: 7 goals, 1 ground ball
Crawford: 4 goals, 3 draw controls, 1 caused turnover
Freeman: 3 goals, 2 ground balls
Narciso: 8 saves, 2 ground balls

What's Next
EMU will hit the road, heading to PA for a Saturday matchup against Bryn Athyn. Gametime is set for 1 pm. 

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