Friday, October 14
Little Rock Earns Comeback Win Over Georgia State
LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan soccer team earned a 2-1 victory over Georgia State on Friday night, keeping Little Rock in third place the Sun Belt Conference with two league games remaining.
Little Rock (9-6-1, 4-3-1 Sun Belt) got goals from Arola Aparicio and Quin Wilkes – both their fourth goals of the year – to earn a come-from-behind victory over Georgia State (5-4-6, 2-2-4).
The Panthers got on the board in the fourth minute, heading in a ball off a corner kick.
But the Trojans equalized just five minutes later when Doro Greulich found Aparicio running past the defense with a through ball. All alone with the keeper, Aparicio calmly put the ball past her and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
In the 23rd minute, Wilkes scored what would be the game-winning goal when Aparicio received a pass inside the box, beat one defender and found Wilkes on the right side for a tap-in finish.
Little Rock has now earned points in four consecutive conference games and have 13 total points to sit in third place.
Sara Small made three saves to earn her seventh victory of the year. Little Rock outshot the panthers 11-7 overall and 5-4 in shots on goal.
The Trojans have Sunday off and will return to action at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex against Georgia Southern on Friday at 7 p.m.
South Alabama Downs Texas State
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team used a pair of first-half goals to defeat Texas State 2-1 Friday night at The Cage.
The Jaguars snap a two-game skid and improve to 10-4-1 overall and 5-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats drop to 6-8-2 and 3-4-1.
Juniors Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) and Caroline Torrens (Pace, Fla.) each scored before halftime as the Jaguars scored twice in the opening half for the first time since Sept. 18 against Georgia Southern, and the second time all season.
"Honestly, I thought we played better last week," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We moved the ball around a lot better last week and kept possession a lot more, but today the difference was we were clinical in the penalty area. Ashlynn scored a beauty and we finished a good one on a set piece as well – I'm really happy to see Caroline get on the scoresheet.
"I'm happy to get the win and happy we were better in the penalty areas tonight, but we've got to get back to playing more simple, attractive soccer that we've been playing the last few weeks to continue our growth."
Jaguar goalkeeper Justice Stanford (The Colony, Texas) was not forced to make a save, but allowed the one goal. The Bobcats attempted just seven shots total.
"We did limit their chances and that's important to us," Winkworth said. "They're not going to score too many on our back line, I feel, but we have conceded goals in the last few matches so we have to look at the reasons for that and try to limit the errors we make at that end of the pitch."
South Alabama outshot Texas State 17-7, with 10 attempts hitting the target. In the first half, seven of USA's eight shots were on goal.
"Seven out of eight beats the 10 out of 28 last week," Winkworth stated. "We were much better in front of goal and I was really proud of that. What a lovely finish for Ashlynn early in the game. She had spurts in the match where she was excellent."
Jones finished off a throughball from sophomore Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England), placing her shot into the upper right corner at 17:33.
Torrens recorded her first goal in a South Alabama uniform at the 38:48 mark, putting home a rebound off a shot from sophomore Hannah Godfrey (Thornton-Cleveleys, England), and the Jags took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Texas State pulled one back with 13:54 left off the foot of Lauren Prater, but the Bobcats managed just one more shot the rest of the way.
"We got an opportunity to rotate in some players," Winkworth said of the early advantage. "Obviously it's going to be a little disjointed, not because of the level of the players going in – we've got a great squad and everyone did a great job individually – but when you make so many changes, it's hard to stay cohesive, no matter who you put on the pitch, because they're not used to playing with the same people. We have to work to play together a little more if we're going to be successful on Sunday."
The Jaguars host Sun Belt-leader Coastal Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.
Coastal Carolina Extends Unbeaten Streak, Defeats Troy 2-0
Troy, Ala. - Coastal Carolina got an early goal from Daniella Famili and a second-half goal by Baylee Price to lead the Chanticleers to a 2-0 victory Friday evening.
With the win, Coastal remains unbeaten in the past five matches allowing only two goals against. CCU improves to 9-4-2, 6-1-1 in the Sun Belt, while Troy is 6-7-3 (2-3-2).
Coastal started strong netting a goal in the first three minutes of the match. Senior Amber Adams lofted a ball into the box finding Montanna Hill who directed the ball to Famili. Famili slotted the ball away with ease.
The remainder of the first half was quiet for both teams with neither able to record a threatening opportunity.
Troy matched Coastal, 14-14, in shots holding an 11-5 advantage over the second half. The Jaguar's best opportunity came in the 56th minute. A long ball into the box found the head of forward Kate Lorenz but CCU goaltender Becca Austin saved the attempt with an easy grab.
In the 79th minute, Price broke through the Jaguar's defense with a lead on pass from Abby Gashel. Price strides through the midfield to then rocket a shot over the Jaguar's keeper Mikki Lewis for the 2-nil lead.
Austin (7-3-2) notched the victory in goal for the Chanticleers and recorded her fifth shutout of the season.
NEXT UP
The Chanticleers will travel to South Alabama Sunday, October 16. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.