Friday, October 23
Jags Claim Outright SBC Title, Tournament's Top Seed
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team got a brace from sophomore Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) and the defense allowed just five shots in a 5-0 shutout of Little Rock Friday night at The Cage.
The win, the Jaguars' third straight clean sheet, clinches the program's second consecutive outright Sun Belt Conference title with a 14-2-1 overall record and 8-0 in the league. The Trojans, who were unbeaten in their last six matches, drop to 8-6-4 and 3-2-2.
"I'm really proud of the girls," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I thought the whole game, from start to finish, we defended as a team from front to back, phenomenally. I think we really limited Little Rock's chances and I'm really pleased with the girls' efforts.
"In the second half, the game opened up a little bit for us, we got in behind a few times and some fantastic goals were scored tonight."
Little Rock managed just five shots overall and only one found the target. Both totals are tied for the second-fewest by an opponent this season. The Jags won the shooting battle 20-5.
"They played quite deep, particularly in the first half, and relied on the counterattack" Winkworth said. "When you've got some talent like we've got at the back, we managed to handle that pretty well."
The five goals equal the number allowed by Little Rock in league play coming into the match – tied for the best defensive record in the league – and the win is the biggest via shutout since a 9-0 victory over Little Rock in 2012.
Jones recorded her second multi-goal performance of the season and first since a hat trick at Southern Miss on Sept. 20. She got the match-winner at 27:19 when she quickly turned a Little Rock giveaway into a score, then tacked on the Jags' fourth of the night off a through-ball from sophomore Rio Hardy (Workington, England) at 79:31.
"Ashlynn was excellent," Winkworth noted. "On that first goal, I might need to see if we need a new net because I think it might still be traveling through the goal. She had a great game and I'm sure she's excited to get back on the field."
South Alabama went into intermission up 1-0, and it remained that way until the 59:12 mark when sophomore Danielle Henley (Hattiesburg, Miss.) headed home a cross from sophomore Sophie Haywood (Hull, England).
Sophomore Tiina Trutsi (Tallinn, Estonia) assisted on the team's third and fifth goals of the night, finding sophomore Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) with a pass in the 66th minute, before hitting freshman Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) down the left side just over four minutes before the end of regulation.
"We were able to rotate a little bit more," Winkworth said. "We've been short on numbers the last few weeks and that gave us a chance to put in a lot of fresh legs at times. I thought all of our forwards have gone in at different times and done an excellent job, whether they've scored or not. I think everyone has given us some quality minutes today in that part of the field."
USA goalkeeper Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) made one stop for her sixth clean sheet of the season. LR's Sara Small allowed all five goals and had five saves.
The Jaguars close out the regular season Sunday against Arkansas State at 1 p.m.
Bobcats Claim 4-1 Victory over Georgia State Following Prater's Third Hat-Trick
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Another hat trick for junior Lauren Prater led the Texas State soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Georgia State Friday evening. Prater and the Bobcats scored all four goals in the second half of action as the victory improves Texas State to 11-5-0 overall and 5-3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Prater scored the final three goals of the contest in the 58th, the 74th, and the 79th minutes.
Alyssa Phelan recorded her first collegiate goal after a quick pass by Landry Lowe in the 50th minute to give Texas State the early 1-0 lead over Georgia State. Kristen Champion was also credited with an assist as she served the ball into the box before Lowe's quick flick to Phelan.
Prater's first goal of the contest was less than 10 minutes later and was assisted by Lynsey Curry. Prater flicked the ball over the goalkeeper just inside the 18-yard box.
Georgia State cut the Bobcat lead to just one in the 73rd minute on a goal by Alexis Thomas. Thomas broke through and weaved around defenders on the left side to try and put a stop to the Bobcat's momentum.
Just 21 seconds later, Prater struck again with an unassisted goal, similar to that of Thomas' score right before. Her second goal also marked her 10th of the season, making her now the team leader in that category.
Prater's third and final goal of the contest game in the 79th minute on a feed from Clarissa Leon. Leon passed the ball into Prater who passed up a Georgia State defender and launched it from the top of the 18-yard box.
The Bobcats recorded 11 shots in the contest compared to 12 by the Panthers. Caitlynn Rinehart finished the night with three saves. Curry led all Bobcats with four shots and all three of Prater's shots resulted in goals.
Texas State will celebrate Senior Day this Sunday against Georgia Southern at 12 p.m.
Mountaineers Edge Georgia Southern, 1-0
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University used a second-half goal to push past long-time rival Georgia Southern, 1-0, at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Friday night.
"I thought the girls played great as a unit. The back line looked good," said head coach Sarah Strickland. "Georgia Southern is a good team. They have been competing and have the ability to expose teams in the width. They have some great individual players like No. 10 (Nora El-Shami) and No. 15 (Jennifer Wittick) who is very strong in the air. Credit to Georgia Southern for making it a battle. I am proud of the girls for keeping it together."
The Mountaineers (9-5-3, 5-2-1 Sun Belt) have now won three-straight Sun Belt matches after defeating ULM and ULL last weekend.
The first half was a defensive struggle for both teams as the Eagles (6-9-2, 3-4-1 Sun Belt) out shot the Apps five to three with both squads have one attempt on goal.
The tide turned in the second half for the Mountaineers when Jane Cline ripped a long range shot that bounced off the crossbar in the 75th minute. Kebrina Keys was right there for a follow up shot that she rocketed past the Georgia Southern goalkeeper.
Strickland praised the effort on the team's goal-scoring play.
"Jane's shot was fantastic. We've been working and working on following up shot attempts. Kebrina did a great job timing her run and making sure she was onside and then absolutely buried that shot. It was a great finish."
The single goal is all the Apps would need to secure another three Sun Belt points. Appalachian now has 16 SBC points with one match left.
Megan Roberson improved to 7-4-2 and recorded her fourth shutout on the year.
The Mountaineers will honor their nine seniors on Sunday before their final regular season match of the season against Georgia State. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
Reynolds Lifts Troy Trojans Past Arkansas State
TROY, Alabama – Abby Reynolds scored both the Trojans' goals in a 2-1 victory over Arkansas State Friday night at the Troy Soccer Complex.
Reynolds put the Trojans (13-4, 6-2 Sun Belt) ahead 2-1 in the 67th minute. She also gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute with her first goal of the match.
Troy fired 11 shots before one found the back of the net. Haley Roberson crossed the ball to Reynolds on the left side of the field and Reynolds, from seven yards out, placed the ball to the left of the keeper to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Following an Arkansas State (3-13-1, 1-6-1 Sun Belt) score in the 63rd minute that tied the game, the Trojans battled back and took the lead in the 67th minute when Kirsten Rendall played a long ball in the middle of the field that found Reynolds on the breakaway and eventually the score for the game-winning goal.
Troy fired 21 shots in the match and landed 12 on goal. However, 16 of their 21 shots came in the first half. The 21 shots matches the second highest amount this season, but is the most against a Sun Belt opponent.
Seven different Trojans took a shot, but Alissa Jones led the way with seven. Chelsey Williams, Brooke McKee and Allie Dingle had three a piece. Annabell Simpson and Reynolds closed out the game with two and Jasmine Fahrnbauer took one.
Reynolds is the only player to have a multi-goal game twice this season.
Troy returns to the pitch on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Little Rock for Senior Day and the final home match of the year. The 2015 seniors are the winningest class in program history and will be honored prior to kickoff.