Thursday, September 17
Dominant Second Half Leads Trojans to Win
ITTA BENA, Miss. – A trio of Trojans each scored their third goals of the season on Thursday night, leading the Little Rock soccer team to a 3-1 victory at Mississippi Valley State.
Quin Wilkes had the game-winner in the second half, while Fali Garuba opened the scoring early and Jaclyn Purvine capped it off late.
The Trojans (5-4) outshot the Devilettes (2-6) by a 12-5 margin but dominated the second half shots 7-0 to pick up the win. The victory was an important one, as it kicks off a season-long four-game road trip that features a game at Texas on Sunday and then the start of Sun Belt Conference play with away contests against Texas State and Appalachian State the following weekend.
Little Rock now boasts four consecutive wins against the Devilettes, and the Trojans remain undefeated all-time against MVSU. The goal scored by MVSU was its first ever against Little Rock, and the Trojans have now outscored them 20-1 in the lifetime series.
With the contest still tied through the midway point of the second half as it had been for 25 minutes, Wilkes finally struck to break the tie and give the Trojans the lead for good. In the 65th minute, the sophomore took a pass from Caitlyn Eddy and buried the ball in the back of the net, making it a 2-1 Little Rock lead.
The goal brought Wilkes to 20 career points. Eddy's assist was her team-leading fifth of the year.
With time winding down, the Trojans got an insurance goal to put the game out of reach. In the 85th minute, freshman Sairra Tucker slotted a pass to Jaclyn Purvine, and Purvine put the ball home for her third goal of the season. The assist was Tucker's first collegiate point, and she becomes the 14th member of the roster to score a point this year.
Little Rock took a 1-0 lead early in the first half as Fali Garuba scored her third goal of the season. Taking a pass from Hali Long, Garuba's aim was true as she put the Trojans ahead.
The Trojans, however, were unable to extend the lead. And with five minutes remaining until halftime, the Devilettes tied the contest at 1-1 on a goal by Ernestina Abambila.
At the end of the night, Little Rock boasted that 12-5 shots advantage after going into halftime tied at 5-5 in the shots category. The Trojans also took seven corner kicks to MVSU's three.
Sara Small (5-4-0) faced just two shots on goal all night and made one save. MVSU goalie Sydney Newport made five saves and faced eight shots on goal.`
Bailey Fithian, Mikayla Uyokpeyi, Long and Small played all 90 minutes for the Trojans.
Little Rock now has two days to prepare for its final non-conference opponent and third major-conference opponent of the year. The Trojans are traveling to Texas to battle the Longhorns at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be aired live on the Longhorn Network.
Marquette, South Alabama Go the Distance, Draw 1-1
MOBILE, Ala. – Marquette scored early but the University of South Alabama soccer team got a late equalizer and the two teams finished 1-1 after 110 minutes Thursday night at The Cage.
The Jaguars move to 5-2-1 on the season while the Golden Eagles pick up their second consecutive tie for a 3-3-2 record.
"I was really proud of how we came out in the second half," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I thought we were unfortunate (to be trailing) if you look at the statistics. I know the shots were seven apiece, but we had four shots on target to one; we really worked their goalkeeper.
"We just had a lapse on a set piece early in the first half and it cost us a goal, but I thought we responded with great character, and in the second half we came out and really controlled the game."
South Alabama outshot Marquette 24-16 on the night, including 17-9 after intermission. USA also held a 12-5 margin in attempts on goal.
"We've learned that we can play with teams in the upper echelon in the Southeastern Conference and we've learned we can play with teams in the upper part of the Big East now as well," Winkworth noted. "We're very unfortunate to come out with just a tie from the last two games. I thought we could have come away with two victories."
It took less than five minutes for Marquette to get on the board. After a failed USA clearing attempt on a corner kick, Erin Holland took a shot from the top of the box that was deflected in by Darian Powell.
The Golden Eagles held on to the advantage deep into the second half despite a 9-2 disadvantage in shots on net, until sophomore Steffi Hardy (Workington, England) drew the Jaguars level. Freshman Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) sent in a deep free kick from near the right touchline that found the foot of Hardy, who volleyed it home for her second goal of the season.
"It was a good set-piece delivery from Jemma, and Steffi got the outside of her foot to it," Winkworth said. "She wasn't sure whether to go up for it or not, and I told her, Yeah, get on up there. I'm glad I said that because she got on the end of it and it was a good finish.
"From there I thought we carried the momentum. We could have sat back and played back to where we were at the beginning, but we tried to push on for the winner."
USA junior Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) allowed one goal and made four saves. Her counterpart, Amanda Engel had 11 stops and one goal allowed.
The Jaguars return to action Sunday in their final non-conference contest of the season, traveling to Southern Miss for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
No. 22 Duke Downs Appalachain State
DURHAM, N.C. — Appalachian State University women's soccer took on the No. 22 ranked Duke Blue Devils on Thursday night at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils (6-2-1) proved too much for the Mountaineers (4-3-1), winning 6-0.
The Mountaineers battled with the Blue Devils through 20 scoreless minutes, recording a corner kick and shot on goal by Sam Childress.
A foul gave Duke a free kick outside the Mountaineer penalty box in the 21st minute. Ashton Miller quickly restarted play by passing over to Rebecca Quinn. Quinn ripped a shot across goal from 30 yards out that sailed past the outstretched arm of Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week Megan Roberson.
The Blue Devils would double their advantage right before the break on Christina Gibbons first goal of the season, sending the Apps to the locker room down, 2-0.
The start of the second half did not go as planned for the Mountaineers as Duke stretched its lead to four goals five minutes into the half.
Duke would tack on two goals in the later stages of the match, making the final score 6-0.
The swarming Duke defensive only allowed the Mountaineers to get off five shots two of which were on goal.
Roberson did her best to keep the Mountaineers afloat, making eight saves on the night bringing her to 26 on the year.
Head coach Sarah Strickland had high praise for the opponents.
"Duke is an outstanding program and their finishing tonight was incredible. We will continue to work to get better and be ready for Sunday's battle with UNC Greensboro."
The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. to take on UNCG. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
Eagles Drop Midweek Contest to South Florida
TAMPA, FLA. – Georgia Southern's three-game win streak came to an end on Thursday night as the Eagles fell 5-0 to South Florida. The Eagles, who entered the match with the fifth-ranked scoring offense in Division I, were shutout for the first time in 2015. Next up for Georgia Southern is a Sunday afternoon match against North Florida.
MATCH FACTS
Georgia Southern (3-4-1) – 0
South Florida (7-0-1) - 5
SCORING
21' – USF – Ocean Parr scores her fourth of the year with a 30-yard rocket goal into the top-corner of the net.
26' – USF – Corner kick knocked in by Olivia Chance for her sixth goal of the season.
40' – USF – Jackie Simpkins cleans up a loose rebound in the penalty area for her first goal of the year.
76' – USF – Corner kick played to the center of the box where Jessica Hamrick strikes a free header into the net.
79' – USF – A through-ball gets Diana Saenz free in the middle of the box. Saenz shoots low and right to beat the keeper with a shot that bounces off the post.
NOTES
- Georgia Southern was out-shot 25-4 in the match.
- Melinda Lukas tallied both of Georgia Southern's shots on the goal with both efforts coming in the second half.
- Lukas celebrated her birthday on Thursday.
- Georgia Southern goalkeeper Emily Egan made five saves while going the distance between the pipes.