Stephen F. Austin Holds off Lady Lions
Stephen F. Austin 1, Southeastern Louisiana 0
HAMMOND, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team opened Southland Conference play Friday with a 1-0 win at Southeastern Louisiana. The victory got SFA out to a solid start in defense of its 2007 SLC championship and gave the Ladyjacks their first road win of the season.
SFA improved to 4-5-0 on the season on the strength of Amanda Lackey's first-half goal. The Lions suffered just their second defeat of the year in falling to 6-2-1.
The Ladyjacks opened quickly, as junior Megan Cash posted a shot on goal in the opening minute. Following a corner kick in the 21st minute, Lackey took aim but her shot was controlled by Southeastern goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus.
Cash hit the crossbar five minutes later then fired another shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the Ladyjacks remained locked in a scoreless tie.
Lackey would break the gridlock seven minutes later, when she scored her second goal of the season. The play started with a throw-in by freshman Edwina Forbes. Junior Brenna Crockett flicked Forbes' throw toward the net, where Lackey was waiting just outside the six-yard box. She took the pass on one bounce and punched a shot past Bockhaus to give SFA a 1-0 lead at the 43:55 mark.
The period ended just over a minute later. SFA held an 8-3 edge in shots at the break. The Ladyjacks took four shots on goal in the opening half to one by Southeastern. Each team earned one corner kick in the first half.
The Lions redoubled their effort in the second period and were able to apply some pressure in the SFA defensive third of the field. Southeastern set up four corner opportunities after halftime and outshot the Ladyjacks, 5-1, in the second period.
But SFA 'keeper Courtney Bauder (4-4-0) was there to collect the one shot on goal the Lions mustered in the second half, and the Ladyjacks made Lackey's goal stand up. Bauder finished with two saves in 90 minutes of labor.
"It wasn't the prettiest game in the world, however credit Southeastern for making it very tough to play," SFA head coach George Van Linder said. "For our first road win of the year, I am very proud of the team. They did a great job."
The road victory is the first for the Ladyjacks since taking a 3-0 verdict at Lamar last October. SFA was 0-5-0 in road games this season coming into Friday's contest.
The win extended the Ladyjacks' streak of consecutive victories in Southland Conference openers to seven games. SFA hasn't dropped an SLC opener since a 4-3 loss at McNeese State in 2003.
The Ladyjacks will continue their conference-opening road trip Sunday afternoon when they take on Nicholls. The game against the Colonels is set for a 1 p.m. start in Thibodaux, La.
UTSA 2, Lamar 0
BEAUMONT, Texas ? Sophomore forward Allie Dillon and junior forward Jenny Munoz each scored a goal apiece to lead the UTSA women’s soccer team past Lamar, 2-0, in both teams Southland Conference opener on Friday night.
Dillon put the Roadrunners (4-7, 1-0 SLC) on the broad first with her third goal of the season at the 25-minute mark of the first half. The Birds also held a 13-4 shot advantage over the Cardinals (2-6, 0-1) in the first frame.
In second half action, Munoz pushed UTSA’s lead 2-0 when she received a pass from junior midfielder Kari Weiland with less than two minutes to play.
Dillon paced UTSA’s offense with a match-high six shots and a goal, while Munoz also added a goal. Junior Veronica Najera posted five shots and Weiland recorded an assist for the Roadrunners. Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Nicoline Joergensen collected her first career shutout of the season and made five saves on the night.
Aline Pugliesi had a team-high three shots, while goalie Jennifer Gibbs allowed two goals and had nine saves on the night.
UTSA heads to Lake Charles, La., for a SLC match at McNeese State on Sunday, Oct. 5. The match is slated for 1 p.m.
Texas State 2, McNeese State 2 (2 OT)
Lake Charles, La. - The Texas State Bobcat soccer team fought for 120 minutes Friday afternoon against the McNeese State Cowgirls, the team's fifth double-overtime feat this season. A pair of goals from Reagan McNutt and Britney Curry were enough to put the `Cats on top, but McNeese State countered to force the game into a 2-2 bind at Cowboy Field in the opening week of Southland Conference action.
"We were asleep in the first half," said head coach Kat Conner. "Then, we just came alive after halftime, attacking the ball and the game was all ours."
Down 1-0 leading into the second half, the `Cats offense showed proof of life in just 45 seconds. After the Cowgirls were whistled for an offsides penalty, senior Reagan McNutt caught Texas State up to speed with an unassisted goal to tie the game.
McNeese State wouldn't let the bind hold for long, sending Kamryn Koch to the box in the 56th minute. Off an assist from Ja'Nae Powell, the league's point leader took her team ahead for a 2-1 score.
Texas State attempted ten shots looking to extend minutes past regulation for the win, including eight that fell on goal. McNeese keeper Shelby Money turned away each try until the 85th minute when Curry found a hole. After catching her own rebound, the sophomore flooded the goal with her fourth score of the season.
"When we woke up, we were all over them," added Conner. "It took a while for us to break through, but we just kept at it and we came out with a goal."
After two overtime periods, the `Cats just couldn't manage to sneak one by the eastern-foe. Texas State attempted seven shots in overtime, while the `Cats defense held the Cowgirls to just one attempt in the 20 minutes.
Newcomer Kendall Webber led the team with five shots, including three on goal.
The Bobcats will head to Beaumont for their next SLC decision as they face Lamar Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Sam Houston State 4, Nicholls State 0