Friday, August 21
Mountaineers Rally Back to Defeat UNCW, 3-2
BOONE, N.C. — In front of a packed Appalachian State Soccer Stadium, Appalachian State University women's soccer scored three unanswered second half goals to defeat UNCW, 3-2, Friday evening.
The Mountaineers got in to an early deficit when Wilmington's Maddie McCormick gathered the ball after a deflection in the App State eighteen-yard box and slotted it into the lower right corner of the net.
The Seahawks added another in the 72nd minute when Megan Roberson committed a foul inside the penalty box and the official pointed at the spot. Katrina Guillou converted the penalty to give her team a 2-0 lead.
"Wilmington is an unbelievable team. They're organized and their runs off the ball are so creative. If there was a gap in the back line they were going to find it," said head coach Sarah Strickland. "Credit to them they made us work for every ounce of what we got today"
Momentum began to swing when Kate Ward threaded a pass to Emmily Cowie making a run towards the Seahawk goal. Cowie calmly finished the chance to the left of the keeper.
Less than five minutes later, Merlin Beckwith whipped a ball from the right side across the six yard box that senior forward Sam Childress was able to head past the keeper for the equalizing goal.
Just as it looked like the game may be headed to overtime, UNCW committed a foul inside its own penalty box. Beckwith stepped up to the penalty spot with a chance to take the lead and buried it in left side of the net.
"With the energy level our team had at that point in the game, I was confident and ready to put the ball in the back of the net", said Beckwith. "You have to step up, take a chance, and go for it."
The Mountaineers three goal rally gave them the first win of their 2015 season. The Apps are back in action at home next Friday against Radford. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Eagles Battle Jacksonville to 2-2 Draw on Opening Night
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern women's soccer team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Jacksonville University Friday evening at Eagle Field to kick off the 2015 campaign.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, scoring in the second minute when sophomore Paige Hoover worked the ball down the right flank, whipping a cross across the goal to find a streaking Melinda Lukas on the opposite post. The junior one timed it past the JU keeper, who got a hand on it, but couldn't keep the Eagles off the board.
In the 22nd minute, senior Katey Lippitt hammered home a goal off a deflection from Paige Hoover in front of the net. The deflection came off a corner from Nora El-Shami, who was also credited with an assist.
The Dolphins got on the board in the 36th minute when Marie Weckhurst's shot was deflected and the spin on the ball caused a bad hop off the wet turf. The ball squirted past GS keeper Emily Egan to bring JU within one.
Jacksonville scored an equalizer in the 58th minute when Lindsay Forrest went upper 90 off an assist from Weckhurst. That would the final goal scored by either team as both teams went the final 62 minutes in the heat and humidity without being able to put the game winner away.
Egan played the first half in goal for the Eagles while Emily Flinn played the second half and both overtime sessions.
"I think Jacksonville did a good job of coming out and pressing and being a little bit more up-tempo [in the second half]," said GS head coach Brian Dunleavy. "That's a good team we just tied. I think the performance that we put in for the 90 minutes and overtime, I thought we created really good chances, perhaps a few more than they did ... The things I'm happy with were the intensity with which we played and the overall way we possessed the ball."
The Eagles (0-0-1) will return to the pitch on Sunday, taking on the University of Tennessee (0-0-1) in Knoxville at 1 p.m., at Regal Soccer Stadium. The match will be broadcast live online through SEC Network Plus.
Arafa's Hat Trick Lifts Panthers Past Alabama State, 5-0
MONTGOMERY- Following a 4-3 loss in last week’s exhibition game at Charlotte, women’s soccer cruised to a 5-0 victory at Alabama State. Suzanne Arafa scored a hat-trick, setting a career-high for goals scored in a single game.
Lauren Harriman scored the first goal of the game, with an assist from Rebecca Copeland. Harriman had four total shots and one assist. Callie O’Connor scored second for the Panthers, and had three total shots.
Before the game went to the half, Arafa scored the first of her three goals of the night. She had four total shots, all on goal, setting a career high for shots in a game.
The Panthers out-shot the Hornets 19-6, improving on last week’s 13 shots. The team was also able to consistently rotate players, giving several girls the chance to see the field.
“Tonight we kicked off the season right. It was great for the girls to get the win. Now we’re turning our focus to Monday night’s home opener against Kennesaw,” head coach Derek Leader said about the victory.
The team has its home opener against Kennesaw State on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.
Purvine's Late Goal Pushes Little Rock Past Tennessee Tech, 2-1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Playing a night game under lights for the first time in program history, Tennessee Tech had a lot to be excited about on Friday. But it was the new-look Little Rock Trojans who lit up the scoreboard late, playing spoiler to the Golden Eagles in both teams' season-opening contest.
Freshman Jaclyn Purvine made her presence felt in crunch time, scoring the game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining in the Trojans' 2-1 victory over the Golden Eagles at Tech Soccer Field.
Neither team put a goal on the board until the final quarter of an hour, but it was Quin Wilkes and Purvine scoring in that time span for Little Rock (1-0) to give the team its second win over Tennessee Tech (0-1) in as many years.
Purvine's game-winner came off a throw-in play with about 1:30 showing on the clock. After the throw, the ball wound up at the feet of Caitlyn Eddy near midfield. The freshman lifted the ball in the air upfield to sophomore Fali Garuba, and Garuba headed the ball on to a streaking Purvine. With Garuba drawing a double team, Purvine was all alone. She slotted the ball low and left under the outstretched arm of TTU goalie Kari Naerdemann, stunning a Golden Eagles squad that had just tied the game eight minutes earlier.
Quin Wilkes started the night's scoring in the 77th minute. The Trojan sophomore was in the right place at the right time, capitalizing on a loose ball in the penalty area off a corner kick. Freshman Talia Graves took the corner kick low and near post, and classmate Nora Hellmers was there to knock it slightly backward and into a crowded area. Wilkes cleaned up the play, nudging the ball over the line to make it a 1-0 Little Rock lead.
Tennessee Tech made that lead short-lived, though, as Taylor Blazei got a hold of a long pass and beat Trojan keeper Sara Small near post with a shot from the left corner of the penalty box in the 81st minute.
But any thoughts of overtime ended eight minutes later when Purvine's strike gave the Trojans the win.
The Trojans have now won three consecutive games against Tennessee Tech dating back to the teams' first-ever meeting in 1998 and including last year's 1-0 win where Wilkes scored the only goal on a second-half penalty kick. The Trojans have also won their opening game for the third consecutive year, and they have won 10 of their last 11 games against non-conference opponents.
After a very even first half that saw few quality chances and just one shot on goal for each team, Little Rock came out on fire in the second half and completely controlled the proceedings. The Trojans took 18 shots in the second half to the Golden Eagles' four, and nine of those 18 shots were on goal. Eddy and Wilkes had four shots each in the half while junior forward Shannon Shields added three.
Small had a quiet night her first college start, facing just two shots on goal but having to come out of the net to play loose balls quickly and efficiently throughout the proceedings.
The first half was much slower, with Little Rock's best early chance coming in the 17th minute as Garuba found the ball at her feet outside the Golden Eagles' penalty area. The sophomore fed a pass forward intended for an all-alone Quin Wilkes, but the ball was just a bit too far and was scooped up by Naerdemann before Wilkes could get her feet on it.
Twelve minutes later, Eddy took a chance from outside the box, but her curving shot wound up tightly in the chest of Naerdemann. In the 34th minute, Garuba had an opportunity inside the penalty area on a Shannon Shields throw-in, but the ball was blocked by a Golden Eagles player and would eventually leave the playing area for a goal kick.
The team's last chance of the half came with four minutes remaining when the team earned a long free kick. Bailey Fithian struck the ball well into a dangerous area, but no one could head the ball on goal or settle it for a shot.
Little Rock returns to the pitch on Sunday afternoon, taking on Belmont in Nashville. The Trojans and Bruins are set for a 4 p.m. kickoff at E.S. Rose Park.
Ragin' Cajuns Edged by Sam Houston State, 1-0
LAFAYETTE -- The Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Sam Houston State in a strong defensive battle at the Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Complex Friday evening.
The Cajuns (0-1-0) outshot Sam Houston State, 17-8 with five attempts coming on-goal but were unable to overcome the only score of the game in the 57th minute after the Bearkats' Caitlin Schwartz finished off a shot from inside the goalie box.
UL Lafayette sophomore midfielder Ashleigh Cade finished with a career-high seven shot attempts (two on-goal). Freshman goalkeeper Cosette Morche turned in a strong performance in her first collegiate start, making four saves while allowing the match's lone goal.
"Overall, I thought we played really well," Ragin Cajuns head coach Scot Wieland said. "We created opportunities [to score] and were in control in the first half, but we have to put the ball in the net. I think we have a lot of great things to build on from this match."
The loss marks the first defeat for the Cajuns against Sam Houston State in the all-time series (2-1-0). They are 4-2-0 in the past six season openers.
UL Lafayette will welcome Nicholls State to Lafayette this Sunday afternoon for a 1 p.m. first kick at the Ragin Cajuns Soccer Complex.
Louisiana Tech Edges UL Monroe, 2-1, on Opening Day
MONROE, La. – A hard-fought battle just didn’t end in favor of the ULM soccer program on opening day as Louisiana Tech took a 2-1 result on Friday evening in front of a record-breaking crowd of 465 fans at ULM Soccer Complex.
ULM (0-1) trailed 1-0 in the first half when junior Mary Ashton Lembo came through with a soaring header to level the score, 1-1 in the 18th minute. It came off a set pieces play as junior Whitney Tuckfield placed one perfectly into the center of the box and Lembo lifted the header over the keeper and into the back of the net.
It marked the second career goal for Lembo and the fourth career assist for Tuckfield.
The teams entered the break tied 1-1, but Louisiana Tech (1-0) got an early strike from Mylene Roy-Ouellet two minutes into the second frame to jump back ahead, 2-1. The shot came from the left side of the penalty box and was fired into the top left corner of the net.
The Warhawks had a few opportunities late in the game, but the Lady Techsters were able to hang on to the result.
“It was a very intense, competitive game all the way through. It was great to see 26 of our girls play today and it gave us a chance to get a feel for our team. We will learn from our mistakes and come back strong,” said ULM head coach Roberto Mazza.
LA Tech’s first goal was scored by Kathryn Sloan in the ninth minute on a breakaway.
“We also have to keep in mind that we didn’t play a pushover team. We played a team that made it to the Conference USA semifinals last year and it was very even for nearly the entire game today. We gained a lot of experience and will use it moving forward,” Mazza said.
Senior Karlea Fehr registered a team-high three shots for the Warhawks while Lembo tallied two, both on goal. Also recording shots for the Warhawks were juniors Jenna Pillon, Amanda Borstelmann, Kylie Kukowski, Nancy Kirk and Tuckfield.
In net, Brooke-Lynn Scroggins (0-1) made eight saves in her first collegiate appearance. Kylee Seto (1-0) picked up the win for the Lady Techsters after stopping four shots.
The Warhawks held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out to this game. It was great to play in front of such a large crowd and have so many people interested in soccer in Northeast Louisiana,” Mazza said.
ULM broke its previous attendance record of 383 set on Oct. 20, 2013 in a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Texas State.
The Warhawks will be back at it on Sunday when they close out the weekend at home against McNeese State at 3:00 p.m.
Jaguars Open 2015 Season with Narrow, 1-0, Win over Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A late goal from sophomore Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) broke a 0-0 tie to give the University of South Alabama soccer team a season-opening 1-0 victory at Mississippi State Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
The Jaguars increased their regular-season win streak to 19 and claimed their third straight triumph over the Bulldogs.
"I'm obviously very happy to come away with the win," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "It's always nice to go to an SEC team on the road and pick up points. I was a little disappointed with our performance from an aesthetic standpoint; I prefer to play a more attractive style of soccer, but in all fairness, Mississippi State made it extremely difficult with their style and I thought we defended like warriors tonight."
Jones' goal came in the 82nd minute off a cross from junior Nikki Shirtcliffe (Burnley, England). Jones was left wide open just outside the six-yard box and bodied the pass in to put the Jags ahead.
"I'm really pleased for Ashlynn," Winkworth said. "She's waited a long time to make her collegiate debut, so for her to score on her first appearance at South Alabama, we are delighted as a staff and as a team to have her as a Jaguar. I'm sure she's going to be a huge asset to the team. She's going to be a good teammate and I'm excited for her and I'm excited for the team as a whole."
The Bulldogs controlled much of the first half, outshooting the Jaguars 11-5 with a 6-1 advantage in shots on target, but junior goalkeeper Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) and the defense were able to keep MSU at bay.
"They are very dangerous on set pieces," Winkworth said. "They have a girl that can throw it a mile, and if we weren't able to win that first ball, we had to make sure we jumped on the second ball, and I thought we did a good job of that. Our goalkeeper did a good job pulling off a couple of big saves as well. It was a case of just jumping on second balls, and unfortunately, where we were forced to defend with so many numbers at times, it did not allow us to play a more attractive style out of the back. That made the game a little ugly, but at the same time, we did what we needed to do to get a result in a difficult environment because Mississippi State will win a lot of games this season."
The shots tally was closer after intermission—9-6 in favor of MSU—but the Jags put two shots on frame compared to the Bulldogs' one. Jones accounted for both of USA's attempts, the first at 53:05 before hitting the back of the net 8 ½ minutes from the final whistle.
"We tried to play a little more out of the back (in the second half); we weren't launching every goal kick straight down the middle," Winkworth said. "I thought that gave us a little more space in the middle. We played a team that packed the midfield, so there wasn't a lot of space to play soccer, but I thought we did a better job of playing out the back and neutralizing the space behind their fullbacks a little more."
Hay finished the match with six saves while playing all 90 minutes. Tanya de Souza made two stops and allowed the one goal.
South Alabama travels to Samford Sunday for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Troy Knocks Off Gardner-Webb, 2-0, to Open the 2015 Slate
Story to Follow
Texas State Battles Bad Weather in Houston, Hangs on for 2-0 Win
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Southern Miss Clips Red Wolves on Late Goal in Second Overtime
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