SUPERIOR, Wis. – The 2021 season is turning into a magical campaign for the Yellowjacket women's soccer team. The Yellowjackets have turned in one dominating performance after another this spring, and came into Wednesday's contest perfect on the year, in more ways than one.
 
And after 90 minutes of play Wednesday afternoon, the perfection stayed intact.

The Yellowjackets rode a second-half onslaught to a 4-0 win over Crown at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex. With the victory, the Yellowjackets improved to 4-0-0 on the year and 4-0-0 in UMAC play. It's the first time since 2005 the Yellowjackets have opened a season with four straight wins.
 
Even more impressive is the way the Yellowjackets have won. Through four contests the Yellowjackets have controlled the play throughout their matches, holding decisive edges in shots attempted, shots on goal, and most importantly, goals. At the other end, the Yellowjackets have yet to surrender a goal in 2021.
 
The Yellowjackets came out strong in the opening half, holding a 13-2 edge in shots attempted and a 3-2 edge in shots on goal, but they had nothing to show for the dominating play. The Yellowjackets thought they got on the board midway through the half when Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) scored, but the play was ruled offside.
 
That changed early in the second half when Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) scored her third goal of the season on assists from Annah Schussman (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) and Wilson, putting the Yellowjackets in front.
 
Later in the half it appeared that Crown had tied the game, and in the process broken the Yellowjacket shutout streak, but like the Yellowjackets in the first half, the Storm had the goal wiped out due to an offise.
 
The Yellowjackets gave themselves some breathing room in the 73rd minute when Schussman set up Wilson, and this time the goal wouldn't be taken away, as she netted her fourth of the year to make it 2-0.
 
With just over five minutes to go in the second half the Yellowjackets erased any drama that remained and pulled ahead 3-0. Claire Smith (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) started the play with a great feed to the top of the box, and Kaitlyn Raisch (Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins) finished it, blasting home her first collegiate goal.
 
Then with just 100 seconds to play, Alessi scored her second of the match and fourth of the season, converting unassisted to make the final score 4-0.
 
The Yellowjackets outshot the Storm 10-3 in the match. Shot attempts favored the Yellowjackets 34-3.

Morgan Philliber (Apple Valley, Minn./Edina) made her fourth start in a row in goal for the Yellowjackets and improved to 4-0 on the year, finishing the day with three saves. She has now stopped all seven shots she has seen this season.
 
The Yellowjackets will now take to the road for their next three matches, beginning with a meeting with Minnesota Morris Saturday, April 17. The opening kickoff at Big Cat Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m.