To say John Carroll believed it could win against Mount Union in Alliance would be a fair assessment of the team's mindset.

To win by four goals would have been aspirations bordering on pie in the sky.

Yet that is what took place Tuesday night, as three second half goals by John Carroll broke open a close match and delivered a 4-0 victory over the host Purple Raiders.

Mount Union, the defending Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament champions, had given up just seven goals in seven league matches prior to this evening, and John Carroll had reached four goals on just two occasions all season. Yet the four-goal margin happened, and matched the Blue Streaks' largest margin in its series with the Purple Raiders, equaling a 4-0 win on October 17, 2000.

The Blue Streaks got on board in the 12th minute when Justina Fortson scored her sixth goal of the year off a feed from Lexie Keller.

That one goal lead remained intact the remainder of the first half, and early on in the second.

Jaclyn Audino then began her stellar night with a goal in the 52nd minute. A little over 21 minutes later, she connected on a second goal thanks to an assist from Taylor Newhart.

Bailey Fischer capped the scoring in the 85th minute.

Rhianna Guarnera made two saves to preserve her eighth shutout of the 2017 campaign.

It was an impressive night overall for the defense, as the Blue Streaks held yet another top scorer to zero points. Nicole Lanese of Mount Union, Rachel Bender of Baldwin Wallace, Jenna Fuller of Ohio Northern and Erica Campbell of Heidelberg -- four of the top five scorers in the OAC along with Fischer -- have all been held without a goal or assist by JCU this season.

JCU has given up just six goals in league play this year, second only to nationally ranked Ohio Northern's five goals allowed.

John Carroll is now 9-5-2 overall and 5-2-1 in the OAC. The Blue Streaks have qualified for their 11th consecutive OAC Tournament (3rd longest current streak) and are assured of at least a #3 seed in next week's playoffs.