No. 1 Central Arkansas Puts Up Five Spot To Advance To Semifinals
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BEAUMONT, Texas – A high-scoring affair to open the 2018 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament went in top-seed Central Arkansas’ favor, defeating No. 8 Northwestern State 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon at the LU Soccer Complex.
In the 13
th minute, Southland Conference Player and Forward of the Year Camille Bassett’s attempt on goal was stopped by a leaping save by NSU keeper Kayla Bomben.
Just two minutes later, Bassett collected a through pass, dribbled past the defender and put one past a diving Bomben to put the Bears on the board.
A Lady Demon corner kick initiated a scrum in the UCA six-yard box, but Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren Mercuri made a jumping save of her own to keep NSU off the board.
The Bears doubled their lead with 11 minutes to play in the opening half as freshman Morgan Rollow scored on the rebound from her initial shot.
UCA padded to its lead in the 41
st minute, when freshman Gracie Hair’s free kick from 50 yards out ricocheted off Bomben’s hand and into the back of the net.
Less than two minutes into the second half, the Lady Demons got on the board as Hallie McCarroll curled a shot around Mercuri into the top right corner from the top of the 18-yard box.
The Bears answered in the 53
rd minute with Newcomer of the Year Connie Awuku-Darkoh beating her defender on the edge and finishing to the bottom right corner past Bomben.
The shootout continued with senior Brittany Caserma finding the back of the net on the right end of an Aliyah Hale cross.
It wasn’t long before UCA responded yet again as sophomore Lauren Hargus volleyed in a cross from Bassett to regain a four-goal lead in the 63
rd minute.
The Bears (16-3-1) advance to Friday’s semifinal and await the winner of the match two between No. 4 seed McNeese and No. 5 seed Abilene Christian.