No. 3 Sam Houston State Uses Penalty Kicks to Advance
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CONWAY, Ark. – No. 3 Sam Houston State defeated No. 6 Central Arkansas in penalty kicks, 4-3, in the first round of the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament at Bill Stephens Soccer Complex on the campus of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark.
Sam Houston State shot six times in the first half with two from junior forward Allie Johnson and senior midfielder Ashley Alonzo, but were all shots came up empty. Central Arkansas shot four time from four different players, but were also unable to find the back of the net.
With 11 minutes to play in the second half Central Arkansas lined up for a corner kick from Dayna Mounie, but Sam Houston State was able to deflect the ball to midfield to keep the game scoreless.
Sam Houston State goalkeeper senior Kyle Hambleton completed regulation with 20 saves while Central Arkansas freshman goalkeeper Lauren Mercuri stopped seven shots before heading into overtime.
In the first overtime, Sam Houston State got off two shots, but both teams ended scoreless through 100 minutes of action. Neither team could convert in the second overtime to force a shootout.
Central Arkansas junior forward Shelby Wilson gave the Bears a 1-0 lead after a Sam Houston miss. Sam Houston State senior midfielder Mariah Titus put one in the back of the net for the equalizer. The Bearkats took a 2-1 lead on a shot from freshman midfielder Meredith Carlson. UCA Allison Coleman tied it at two. Sam Houston State senior defender Katie Bunch put the Bearkats back on top, 3-2.
Another equalizer, this time from UCA Kate Cook. Sam Houston State junior forward Allie Johnson had her shot deflected, but had enough power on her shot to score for a 4-3 lead. Hambleton blocked the final shot from the Bears to clinch the win.
No. 3 Sam Houston State advances and will take on No. 2 Houston Baptist Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at Bill Stephens Soccer Complex to open the second day of the 2015 Southland Soccer Tournament.
2015 Southland Conference Tournament Quotes
Sam Houston State Head Coach Tom Brown
(On the shutout)
“I think you get to that point and it’s a bit of a lottery. Kylie made some big saves to keep us in. We created a lot of chances this evening but just couldn’t put one in. I was just hoping we weren’t going to pay for that lack of ability in finishing during the penalty kick.”
(On senior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton)
“She’s a great goalkeeper and has been playing great the last month or so. I think she proved well tonight, getting the shutout and keeping them off the board when they were attacking. She came up with two big saves in wide areas in the penalty kick shutout.”
Sam Houston State senior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton:
(On mentality going into the final UCA shot)
“I was in a fortunate situation knowing that if I saved it, we won and if not, we would go to another round of shooters. Having that calm feeling helped with my teammates putting me ahead. It was happy I was able to relax and make the save.”
Central Arkansas Head Coach Jeremy Bishop
(On strategy)
“We fought tonight, it was a real good game and Sam Houston is a real good team. They outshot us but I think that’s what you have to do sometimes against a team that maybe has a little more firepower. You have to get behind it and defend, make them shoot from a distance and make it tough on them.”
(On offensive)
“As far as our side of it we created some stuff. We were able to break them down, get behind them and give ourselves some good chances to score. It just didn’t come tonight.”