Quick Strike Offense Leads Bobcats to 4-2 Win Over Troy
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Three goals in an eight-minute span in the first half for the Texas State soccer team propelled it to a 4-2 win Friday night at the Bobcat Soccer Complex during the annual Pink Match. With the win, TXST clinched one of the top two seeds in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
The Bobcats improve to 10-4-1 overall, 8-1-0 in the Sun Belt and extended their winning streak to seven in-a-row while the Trojans fall to 6-9-2 on the season and 4-4-0 in conference action. It is the 11th time in program history that TXST has reached the 10-victory mark and third time in the last four years.
Striking first was Troy late in the sixth minute. Claire Taylor sent in a cross that Heather Martin tied to catch but bounced off her chest. Julia Winter was there to knock the loose ball in for the 1-0 advantage.
On the ensuing kickoff, Alyssa Phelan passed into the middle to Rachel Grout. The Dallas native took a dribble and sent a through ball to just inside the 18-yard box. Kaylee Davis was able to run onto and chip it into the left corner of the net to tie the match just 11 seconds after the Trojan score.
Kassi Hormuth tallied her seventh goal of the season and put the Bobcats up 2-1 early in the eighth minute. She dribbled down the right side beating the defender just enough to send a shot into the lower left corner past the diving keeper.
A little over two minutes later Brooke Ramsey nearly increased the lead when she unleashed a rocket of a shot that beat the keeper. However, the ball clanked off the crossbar and was cleared away by the Troy defense.
Late in the 14th minute, Hormuth sent in a cross from the right side of the pitch. After taking a hop, Davis headed the ball just inside the right post for her second goal of the contest and seventh of the season. The assist was Hormuth's 15th in her career and tied her for third on the program's career list with Natalie Holder (2003-06) and Rikki Padia (2005-08).
The Trojans only good chance to score for the rest of the first half came halfway through the 22nd minute. Julia Winter ripped a hard shot that Martin made a diving save on to keep the two-goal advantage.
In the 32nd minute, Grout attempted a long shot from 30 yards out. Her floater nearly went in but was tipped over the bar by Troy's Mikki Lewis for a corner kick.
The second half saw the Trojans maintain possession for most of the period. It paid off for them in the 66th minute when Winter headed home a cross from Kate Lorenz to cut the Bobcats' lead to 3-2.
Eventually, TXST won a corner kick in the 77th minute. Phelan sent the ball into the middle of the box and a Troy Defender attempted to head the ball away but was not able to get enough on her attempt. Genesis Turman was there to head the ball back towards the goal. The ball somehow squeaked by a Bobcat and Trojan to Grout, who beat the goalkeeper to the ball and knocked it into the back of the net for a 4-2 lead. It was the senior's team leading eight goal of the season.
Both teams attempted 10 shots and placed five on goal. Davis led the way for TXST with four shots and both Grout and Hormuth had two attempts each.
Grout and Hormtuh each were credited with their sixth assist of the year. Their total ties them for the eighth most in a season by a Bobcat. They are also the third TXST duo to record six or more assists apiece in a season in program history and first since 2011.
Martin picked up her ninth win between the posts, tied for the eight most in school history in a season. The sophomore made three saves on the night.
Sunday sees the Bobcats close out the regular season at 1 p.m. against South Alabama with the Sun Belt regular season title on the line on TXST's Senior Day.
HARDY TIES SCHOOL RECORD, HELPS SOCCER TO WIN AT LOUISIANA
LAFAYETTE, La. – University of South Alabama senior Rio Hardy tied a school record with her 12th career game-winning goal, and added an assist to give the Jaguars a 2-1 comeback win over Louisiana Friday night at the Ragin' Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility.
The Jags go to 9-5-1 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns fall to 5-9-2 and 2-5-2.
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama held a 21-9 edge in shots, including 8-3 in shots on goal, and outshot Louisiana 12-2 after intermission
- LA's Ashleigh Cade wasted little time getting the Cajuns on the board, blasting a low shot from about 20 yards out at 6:48
- Senior Danielle Henley was left open in the box at 19:02 and forced LA goalkeeper Victoria Ryan to go the ground to make the stop
- The Jaguars knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the first half when senior Tiina Trutsi's corner was headed by Hardy back across the goal to senior Chelsea Followwell, whose own headed attempt hit the underside of the crossbar
- Ten minutes later, Hardy put the Jags up on a header eight yards out off a cross from freshman Selma Björgvinsdóttir at the 33:39 mark
- Trutsi almost added to the Jaguars' lead at 37:04 but her wide-open half-volley from six yards out went over the bar
- Senior Steffi Hardy helped maintain South Alabama's advantage by clearing a Louisiana attempt off the line in the 39th minute
- Shortly after the start of the second half, junior Hannah Godfrey went high from short range after a Jaguar corner kick
- Louisiana had its best chance to equalize in the 87th minute but Erika Sierra's shot from two yards out was blocked off the line by Godfrey
- Ryan made six stops for the Cajuns, while Jaguar sophomore Justice Stanford was not credited with a save
NOTES
- The Jaguars stay three points behind Texas State in the race for the Sun Belt title; the two schools will meet Sunday in San Marcos, and the Jags have a game in hand
- Hardy is tied with USA Hall of Famer Cindy Rainville (1998-01) with 12 game-winning goals
- Hardy is already in second place in school history by herself with 37 goals and 88 points
- USA is 6-1-2 all-time against LA in Lafayette
- South Alabama has won its last four games on the road after starting out 0-2-1
- The Jaguars have outshot their opponent 12 times in their last 13 outings
- South Alabama is 6-1 in its last seven games decided by one goal
- The Jaguars are 36-6-2 in conference games in the last five seasons
- Friday marked the sixth consecutive game the Jags recorded multiple goals against the Cajuns
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "It was senior night for them and they came out flying. The first 10 minutes they got a goal and we weren't ready. We made some adjustments right away tactically, the game shifted, we got a goal, and 10 minutes later we got a second. I felt like the game opened up from there. They got some chances, but we had the better ones. If we could finish chances, a lot of these scorelines wouldn't be as close as what they have been."
On dominating the second half: "The second goal, I think, deflated them a little. When they got the first goal, I was expecting more energy from them, but they sat back. When we got the first goal, they were still in the game, but the second goal changed everything. We have too many good players to not be able to get a hold of the ball and move it well. We had good players on the ball and we moved it well. If we could just finish chances we'll be dangerous. I don't think we'll get as many chances on Sunday, but the ones we do get, we need to put them in the back of the net."
On Rio Hardy's performance: "She was fantastic. She was fading in and out of the game, and we tried to tell her to pick her moments when she worked and to stay central. She's so tall and has such a huge impact on the game when she stays central. When she starts running out into the channels, she's not as effective. She stayed central, the cross came in and she was on the end of a header. When she stays central and we try to play out of the back, and we have to go more direct when we're under pressure, she holds the ball up so well for us. Rio is putting in some great performances and is a huge asset to this team. She's one of the players we'll look to on Sunday. Her mentality is fantastic – it's all about the team."
On the confidence of the team to come back on the road: "It was a bit of a test, and when we went down, it was such a high-intensity game for them and we couldn't get out of it. A tactical adjustment changed the game. But it's great to see us come back from a goal down. It speaks volumes of the team and what they're there for. Now we get the chance to play for something on Sunday."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars wrap up their road schedule Sunday against league-leading Texas State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
A Big Road Victory Helps Trojans in Postseason Push
LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock's determined attack helps beat Georgia Southern 3-1 on the road to gain a huge three points in the Sun Belt Conference standings.
After a barrage of corner kicks for the Trojans, one finally found the head of Quin Wilkes on the back post from Jaclyn Purvine to give Little Rock a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. The Trojans would keep the lead going into the half out shooting the Eagles 6-4 with Megan Swanson getting three saves.
The grit of the Trojans attack was apparent as they took the momentum straight into the second half. In the 62nd minute, Lisa Ryan would take a throw in on the right side of the field and fire it in the box towards Fali Garuba. Garuba would swing her leg at the ball just missing it but distracting the defenders and keeper just enough for it to sneak through to the side left netting. The goal would count for Ryan giving her the second of the season.
Little Rock would not let up the gas and kept pushing forward. Doro Greulich would find an opportunity in the 76th minute to jostle the ball away from an Eagle defender and get a break away with just her and the goaltender. With a finesse chip over the outstretched hands of the keeper, Greulich would get her sixth goal on the season and put Little Rock in a commanding 3-0 lead.
The free kick setups proved to be a dangerous look for the Trojans coming up just barely short in two of their attempts. The first coming from a screaming shot towards the left side that would graze the goaltenders fingers just enough to send it off the post and away. Liesa Seifert would get in on the action as she would send a shot towards the right side forcing Georgia Southern's goaltender to dive and push it away.
Georgia Southern would find a small hint of life in the 80th minute as a header from Paige Hoover arched awkwardly to the right-side netting barely beating Swanson and putting the score to 3-1.
That win puts Little Rock to 3-3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference and gives them their first victory on the road this season. Earning those three conference points gives them 11 total and jumps them above Georgia Southern who sits with 10.
Greulich continued to lead the team with another five shots on the evening followed by another two by Wilkes. The pair of goals scored by the two puts Greulich at a team leading six on the season and Wilkes right behind her with four. Purvine's assist puts her total at three on the year.
Little Rock will look to take the momentum into Sunday's matchup versus Georgia State that begins at 12 p.m.
A-State Closes Out Regular Season With Victory
ATLANTA, Ga. (10/20/17) – The Arkansas State women’s team concluded the regular season with a 2-0 a win over Georgia State Friday at the Georgia State Soccer Complex.
With the victory the Red Wolves finish the regular season with a 9-6-1 record and a 5-4-1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. With the result, combined with other results from around the league on Friday, A-State has officially clinched a berth in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the second straight season.
A-State currently sits in third place in the league standings, but a full slate of games remain on the league’s schedule for Sunday, as well as two makeup games for the following weekend, before a final determination can be made on seeding for the conference tournament.
Arkansas State got on the board early in the match when Sarah Sodoma connected on her eighth goal of the year for an early lead. Sodoma redirected a free kick off the foot of Riley Ebenroth, who collected her eighth assist of the year. Ebenroth sent in an attempt from 25 into the front of the net and Sodoma redirected the shot into the net for the goal.
Sodoma’s also marked an important milestone for the A-State freshman, who has moved into a tie for third place for A-State’s single season goals scored list with eight. She is just one away from moving into a tie for second place and needs four more to tie the single-season record of 12 set by Loren Mitchell (2013) and Shawna Sparks (2003).
A-State added to its lead in the 47th minute when Maggie Ertl scored on a shot from the top of the box for her third goal of the season. The score was setup on a pass from Hailey Furio who drew the defense in and passed back to Ertl who sent in the attempt from just inside the 18 yard box for the 2-0 lead.
Their chance was early and they are good young team,” A-State head coach Brian Dooley said. “I think that shot that hit the crossbar midway through the first half could have changed things if had went in, but we rode out the pressure and kind of turned things in our favor. It was good to get Lindsey Brochu back out there and she really helped us stretch the midfield and force some defensive turnovers.”
Kelsey Ponder made five saves on the night and earned her eighth win of the season, which moves her into a with Amanda Lee (2013), Aja Aguirre (2012) and Susan Brown (2009) for the most wins by a goalkeeper in a single season. Ponder also collected her fifth shutout of the year, breaking her own school record of four, which was set in 2016.
Women's Soccer Ties with ULM in 1-1 Draw
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State women's soccer senior Lindsey Tully scored in a third straight match, but the Mountaineers and the Warhawks of ULM concluded to a 1-1 draw on Friday evening at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.
The Mountaineers were on the attack the entire evening with a season-high 13 shots on goal and 24 shots overall, giving the Black and Gold a .542 SOG percentage. Over the last two matches, App is 22-for-41 (.537) in SOG and shot attempts. However, the Apps could just muster one goal on those opportunities when Kat Greer found Lindsey Tully for her third score of the season in the 10th minute to give App an early 1-0 edge. The Charlotte, N.C. native is undoubtedly ending the season on a high note as she's surpassed her personal best for goals in a season and shots on goal. Tully finished with an impressive five SOG on eight shots overall to lead App in both categories.
App led for the 54 minutes of the match until ULM's Mia Walters tied up the contest, 1-1. Appalachian kept the pressure on the ULM with nine more shots during the rest of regulation, but couldn't convert to take the lead or capture the win. Tully attempted a shot on target in the first overtime period, while Sarah Moon fired off a shot on goal, but wouldn't find the back of the net.
Taylor Ray got the start while Sam Steyl would also see action between the posts. Ray came away with two saves, and Steyl chipped in with one stop.
App State will need a win against Coastal Carolina on Sunday to stay in the hunt for a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Mountaineers will honor seniors, Erin Settle, Sarah Peatross, Sam Steyl, Sharon Osterbind, Morgan Mosack, Tully, Sarah Moon and Kelly Flanders before the 1 p.m. match.