Sunday, August 23
Webster's Goal Powers A-State Past UAPB
JONESBORO, Ark. (8/23/15) — A shot off the foot of Sutton Wester was the only goal the Arkansas State soccer team needed Sunday afternoon as the Red Wolves’ defense stepped up to help the squad to a 1-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the A-State Soccer Park.
“I thought this is one of those character wins that a team needs early in the year,” A-State head coach Brian Dooley said. “It was a game in which they (UAPB) forced us to struggle and that is what I liked about our team is that we found a way to get past all that. After a tough situation at Southern Miss with delays and overtimes and just get enough rest, I thought the team faced that challenge well and then withstood the challenge that UAPB threw at us.”
Wester’s goal in the seventh minute was setup by a fantastic throw in from freshman midfielder Kassie Flynn, who whit the hit the head of junior Ava Abner with the throw. Abner flicked the ball onto junior Katherine Padgett, who delivered a header pass to Wester, who then got control of the ball and sent it into the net for the game’s only goal.
The Red Wolves (1-0) had three more solid chances in the box during the first half. In the 21st minute, freshman Arianna Delli Carpini took a strike on goal that Cowles was able to stop, but could not control the rebound which found the foot of senior Loren Mitchell who sent in a shot on target, but was collected by UAPB (0-1) goalkeeper Makayla Cowles to keep Arkansas State from adding to its lead.
Wester also had an opportunity in the 37th minute with a good looking header shot that sailed just wide of the net.
The Red Wolves peppered UAPB with nine shots in the first half, forcing Cowles (0-1) so make four saves. A-State’s defense allowed just two shots in the first, only one of which landed on target.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff turned up the pressure in the second half and forced A-State sophomore goalkeeper Alexis Philippe (1-0) to make two saves in the first six minutes of the match. Philippe made five saves in the second half, none bigger than in the 70th minute when Ciera Fenwick put two shots on goal that Philippe was able to keep from crossing the endline to ensure A-State would win its 2015 season opener.
The clean sheet was the first of Philippe’s collegiate career while playing a full 90 minutes in net. The sophomore combined with Amanda Lee in a shutout during her freshman season as well.
The Red Wolves had changes in the second half to increase their lead. Redshirt sophomore Jacquiline Greer had a shot in the 67th minute that just sailed high of the goal and came back with a dangerous header in 73rd minute that Cowles was able to just get her finger tips on and deflect it out of harm’s way.
Arkansas State returns to the pitch Friday, Aug. 28th at Central Arkansas for a matchup with the Sugar Bears at 7 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex. A-State returns home Sunday, Aug. 30 against Murray State at 1 p.m. at the A-State Soccer Park.
Cowgirls Steal Match Late from Warhawks
MONROE, La. – In a game that saw the ULM soccer program dominate possession the whole way, McNeese State was able to flip in a pair of second half goals to grab a 2-1 result on Sunday at the ULM Soccer Complex.
The Warhawks (0-2) outshot the Cowgirls (1-0) 18-9, including 9-3 in shots-on-goal. ULM also held a big 7-1 edge in corner kicks.
ULM struck first in the ninth minute on a header by sophomore Danielle LaFrance. It came on a corner kick as senior Karlea Fehr floated one into the middle of the box where LaFrance was perfectly positioned to place a header into the bottom-right corner.
It marked the third career goal for LaFrance and the 17th assist for Fehr, the program’s all-time assist leader.
After outshooting 8-2 in the first half, the Warhawks went into the break leading, 1-0.
The Cowgirls got the equalizer six minutes into the second half on a long-range shot by Bettina Brulhart. She was able to loop it over the keepers head into the top-center of the net from outside the penalty box.
Despite the Warhawks being in control, they saw a heartbreaking goal go in with just over three minutes left to play. McNeese goalkeeper Lauren Sestak’s (1-0) high punt bounced over a ULM defender and Gabi D’Alesandro tracked it down and made a run down the left side. From a tough angle, she was able to flip a shot over freshman goalkeeper Brooke-Lynn Scroggins (0-2) into the top right corner for the game-winning goal.
Fehr tallied a game-high six shots with four on goal. Junior Mary Ashton Lembo fired four shots, while junior Jenna Pillon, freshman Cke’Lana Caesar and LaFrance each registered a pair.
In back, junior Whitney Tuckfield and freshmen Kelsey Dazalla and Alexandria Skidmore all played 90 minutes. ULM used a total of 21 student-athletes in the contest.
The Warhawks will look to bounce back when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the ULM Soccer Complex. Follow the program on twitter, @ULM_Soccer, for live in-game updates.
Ragin' Cajuns Blank Nicholls State, 2-0, to Pick Up First Win
LAFAYETTE – The UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns soccer team picked up its first win of the season, blanking visiting Nicholls State, 2-0 at the Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Cajuns (1-1-0) got on the scoreboard in the 14th minute when junior forward Yazmin Montoya picked up the first of her two assists, feeding a pass from the left side to junior midfielder Kimberly Grasso from about 10 yards in front of the keeper. The goal was the first for Grasso on the season.
"I was going to go for the attack but then I decided to see if the ball would ricochet out," Grasso said. "I was hesitant when the ball was in the air because it was on my right foot and I am left-handed. I just went in, kept my head down and finished the play. It was really exciting."
The UL Lafayette defense did not yield a shot attempt in the first half.
In the 82nd minute Montoya kicked it out to junior forward Annika Schmidt who completed the scoring play chipping the ball over the head of Nicholls State goalkeeper Amanda Boylson from nearly 30 yards away.
The two assists for Montoya moved her into a third-place tie on the Cajuns' all-time list with nine. She stands one assist away from tying Sara Vienberg for second place in program history. Montoya bumped her career point total to 49, one shy of matching Kelli Jestes for second place on the Ragin' Cajuns all-time list.
UL Lafayette freshman goalkeeper Cosette Morche (1-1-0) registered the first win and first shutout of her collegiate career. She logged all 90 minutes, saving seven shots, a season high.
"The defense played great again and I was really proud of them and [freshman goalkeeper] Cosette Morche as well," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Scot Wieland said. "We put the ball in the net and we got the result we wanted. I am happy for the girls because they are being rewarded for the hard work they are putting in.
"It's nice to finish the weekend with a win, which is always important at home. The girls have been working really hard and defending very well. It's a good sign for what's to come."
The Cajuns will begin a three-game road trip beginning next Friday, August 28 at Ole Miss for a 7 p.m. first kick.
Belmont Tops Little Rock, 1-0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite outshooting its opponent 16-9 and having a clear edge in possession and scoring chances, the Little Rock soccer team suffered its first loss of the 2015 season by a 1-0 score at Belmont on Sunday evening.
Little Rock (1-1) threatened throughout both halves of the game, but it was a first-half goal from the Bruins (1-0) that made the difference. Coming off a corner kick in the 15th minute, Emily Whitcomb headed a ball past Trojan goalie Sara Small to provide the difference maker in the contest.
The Trojans will return to Little Rock for their first home game of the year on Friday at 7 p.m. for the #CrowdColeman event. Little Rock went undefeated at home in non-conference play during the 2014 season.
Despite trailing on the scoreboard, Little Rock outshot Belmont 6-3 in the half and had three corner kicks to the Bruins' two. Small made two saves in the half, equaling Bukovec's total.
The second half was no different, as the Trojans controlled the ball and had the better chances on goal. Sophomore Fali Garuba had the best opportunity with 12 minutes to go as she sped past four Bruins players on her own before taking the ball into the penalty area. Her shot, though, was just high over the net, keeping Belmont in the lead.
Garuba also had a shot saved by Belmont goalie Stephanie Bukovec in the 76th minute, and a shot for her in the 86th minute went just wide left.
Small finished the night with five saves, four more than she attained in the season opener at Tennessee Tech on Friday. Her three second-half saves helped keep Little Rock in the game.
Little Rock will play again on Friday night, taking on Murray State at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Eagles Fall to Tennessee, 2-0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Georgia Southern Women's Soccer closed the opening weekend of the 2015 season with a 2-0 loss at Tennessee. The Eagles nearly leveled the score in the final minutes, but an 89th minute goal by the Vols gave the home side their first win of the season.
Tennessee held the majority of possession in the opening minutes and it was the Volunteers who scored the breakthrough goal in the 11th minute. Anna McClung took advantage of a loose rebound in the six yard box to score Tennessee's first goal of the season.
Georgia Southern's offense had plenty of chances throughout the afternoon with nine shots and eight corners in the match. The Eagles kept the possession battle close, trailing 51 percent to 49 percent at halftime with much of the same in the second half.
The Vols, however, got the second goal to effectively end the match in the 89th minute off the head of Amy Neal. She headed a cross from Anna McClung in the six yard box off a quick attack.
Despite allowing two goals, Georgia Southern goalkeeper Emily Flinn made four saves including some nifty stops which stonewalled clear goalscoring opportunities for the Volunteers.
Senior Nora El-Shami led the Eagles with five shots and was one of just two Eagles to play all 90 minutes in the contest along with Alana McShane.
"We did well with what we set out to do today, but it wasn't the result we were looking for," said Head Coach Brian Dunleavy. "I felt we were lacking urgency and desire in the attacking third, and that is something that we will have to work on. We were good defensively today and we were dominant in possession at times in the first half. I was a little disappointed to be down 1-0 early, but really calmed down well. Overall I think we did well against a very good opponent, but it was not the result we were looking for."
The Eagles are on the road next weekend with a trip through the Carolinas. On Friday, Georgia Southern visits Coastal Carolina for a 7 p.m. match on the Grand Strand before crossing the border to face Charlotte on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Jags Top Samford for Second Consecutive Win
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of South Alabama sophomore Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) scored the final two goals of the match to lead the Jaguars to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Samford Sunday evening at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
The Jags rallied twice from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to keep their 20-game regular-season streak alive and improve to 2-0 on the season while the Bulldogs drop to 1-1.
"I thought we started extremely slowly and I was disappointed in the first half hour," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We made a couple of changes toward the end of the first half—Danielle (Henley) and Emily (Farrell)—and they really helped us out. They started helping us control possession a little more, which is something we were struggling with in the first half.
"I don't think we've seen the best of South Alabama soccer yet this season, so to pick up two results on the road like that this opening weekend, I couldn't be happier from that standpoint. Today's result is big because Samford will be in the top 100 at the end of the season."
Hannah recorded her first and second goals of the season, and the final one 11 minutes from time provided the final margin of victory. Senior Jordan Duncan (Bay St. Louis, Miss.) assisted on two goals and sophomore Chelsea Followwell (Sachse, Texas) scored the Jaguars' opener.
"We worked hard on team chemistry and we've talked about handling adversity," Winkworth said. "I was pleased with the workrate in the second half. We could've stopped when we went 2-1 down because we went down twice, so to come back on two different occasions and go on to win the game, speaks highly of the girls' character."
Duncan found Hannah with a through-ball in the center of the Samford defense and Hannah poked it past the goalkeeper at the 70:34 mark to knot the game at 2-2. Sophomore Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) fed Hannah on the match winner, chasing down a pass from junior Nikki Shirtcliffe (Burnley, England) and crossing to Hannah at the six-yard box who one-timed it home.
"Chardé's going to continue to try and score goals for us," Winkworth said. "She had a very disappointing first half; I've got extremely high standards for her. I talked with her at halftime about her performance and I'm very happy with the way she responded. She defended a lot harder in the second half and she worked harder to be the first person to reach the ball, and was rewarded because of it. She's got to continue to make sure she starts games as well as she finished tonight."
Samford's Malcanisha Kelley opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but a cross from Duncan found the head of Followwell at 42:22 and the teams went into the halftime break tied at 1-1.
"That's one of the most athletic teams we'll play against; they've got some very good athletes on that squad," Winkworth said. "Similar to the Mississippi State game, we got caught up in trying to match them athletically but we're not as athletic. Once we started making those changes, we controlled possession a little bit more. Jordan put some good pressure on in the final third, put in a nice cross and Chelsea equalized. Even though we outshot them in the first half, I thought we were fortunate to come in 1-1. I was happy about the score considering our performance."
It took Kelley 3½ minutes after intermission to give the Bulldogs the lead again, splitting three USA defenders and beating the netminder just inside the penalty area.
"I thought we started the second half quite well; we were unfortunate to go 2-1 down," noted Winkworth. "Kelley is extremely fast and athletic, and we did not take care of her defensively very well. She put them 2-1 up which I thought was unlucky for us, but we made some changes, were very brave from a formation standpoint, attacked them with a lot of forwards and equalized."
Sophomore Courtney Baum (Cumming, Ga.), in her first start since Sept. 14, 2014, made two saves and permitted both goals. Samford's Katie Peters had three saves and allowed one goal in the first half, and Anna Maddox had two saves and two goals allowed in the second.
The Jaguars stay in state next weekend, traveling to Troy for the Trojan Classic Friday and Sunday. USA will face Louisiana Tech in the opener.