FRIDAY’S SCORES
@Arkansas State 3,
UT Martin 1
Middle Tennessee 3,
@Tennessee State 2
@Miami (Ohio) 4,
Austin Peay 0
Eastern Illinois 2, @Evansville 1
Marshall 2,
@Morehead State 0
Kennesaw State 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0
Belmont 3, @Alabama State 0
@Jacksonville State 1, McNeese State 1
ARKANSAS STATE 4, UT MARTIN 1
JONESBORO, Ark. - The University of Tennessee at Martin senior Kendyl Wilson scored her team-high third goal of the season in the 50th minute to tie this afternoon’s match at Arkansas State, but the Red Wolves scored three unanswered goals on the way to a 4-1 win at the ASU Soccer Park.
The Skyhawks outshot Arkansas State by a 12-11 margin, putting five of their attempts on goal. UT Martin’s senior duo of Wilson and Midori Sera each attempted three shots apiece to lead the Skyhawk offense.
Arkansas State attempted the first shot of the match in the 10th minute, but Skyhawk goalkeeper Mariah Klenke made the first of her four stops on the day. Less than 90 seconds later, Sera got a clear look at the goal but her shot was saved by Red Wolves’ goalkeeper Aja Aguirre.
Klenke notched saves in the 13th minute and 23rd minute to keep the match scoreless. At the 31:42 mark, UT Martin’s Hannah McGowen nearly gave the Skyhawks a lead but her shot on goal was snared by Aguirre.
A little over five minutes later, Jenna Merrill fired a shot on goal but Aguirre came away with her third save of the first half.
After 41 minutes of scoreless soccer, Arkansas State got on the scoreboard on a rebound that glanced off Klenke before finding the back of the net.
The Skyhawks came roaring out of the halftime break, as Saphyra Coombs-James attempted a shot that swerved wide a little over three minutes into the second stanza.
Wilson would even the score at the 49:59 mark. Taking a feed from Jessica Horvatich, the Collierville, Tenn. native scooted a shot from the right corner of the box that found paydirt. It was Wilson’s ninth career goal, which moves her into a tie for 10th place on the UT Martin all-time career goals scored list.
Arkansas State would soon take the lead back, netting a goal at the 54:02 mark. Wilson nearly tied the match again in the 72nd minute but Aguirre snatched the save on Wilson’s shot on goal attempt.
The Red Wolves went ahead 3-1 on an own goal by UT Martin in the 75th minute. Arkansas State made the score 4-1 after Katey Carmichael’s second goal of the match deflected off Klenke in the 79th minute.
UT Martin would alternate seven subs from that point through the end of the match, but could not attempt a shot the rest of the way.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech soccer team came up short in its comeback attempt against the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee Friday afternoon, falling in a roller coaster of a match 3-2.
Middle Tennessee started things early, scoring twice in the first fifteen minutes with a barrage of five shots-on-goal, eight total shots, and six corner kicks.
The Tech offense came to life following the second Blue Raider goal, controlling the ball better and forcing MTSU to play more towards its own net. Junior forward Ellie Iaciofano headed in her fourth goal of the season off of a pass from fellow junior Taylor Hicks to cut the lead in half. The goal, which came in the 34th minute was Iaciofano's fourth of the season and helped shift a large portion of momentum back to the Golden Eagle sidelines.
Just six minutes into the second half, Iaciofano struck again, making a nifty move following a Chelsea Ladd assist and landed the ball into the back of the net to tie the match at 2-2. Iaciofano's fifth goal of the season was also her fourth in the last three games and looked to have made up for the slow start by the Golden Eagles.
Less than two minutes later, Middle Tennessee answered back. The Blue Raiders took a 3-2 advantage on the back of a rebound goal that richocheted off the post following an incredible diving save by freshman goalkeeper Jordan Brown. The Blue Raiders would hold off the Golden Eagle attack for the rest of the match to earn their fourth victory of the season.
The defense played another solid match following the first two goals, allowing just 11 shots-on-goal despite 24 shot attempts by the Blue Raiders. Despite missing senior defender and back line leader Leigh Heffner, the Golden Eagles cleaned up the mess quicker, allowing just eight shots in the second half. Brown gathered up eight saves in the contest, including several acrobatic, diving stops.
Iaciofano, who recorded her first multi-goal game of her career in last Friday's match against Northern Kentucky, again made her presence felt, notching her second two-score game of the season. Her five goals and 11 points leads the Golden Eagles in both categories and puts her among the OVC leaders as well.
MIAMI (Ohio) 4, AUSTIN PEAY 0
OXFORD, Ohio - Austin Peay State University women's soccer team couldn't get the offense in gear at Miami (Ohio), Friday, falling to the Redhawks at Miami Soccer Field.
The Lady Govs were under the gun in the early stages of this match. Miami (Ohio) outshot the Lady Govs 13-3 in the opening half; the Lady Govs have been outshot by opponents 52-38 in the opening 45 minutes of games this season.
An unfortunate error in the first half put Austin Peay behind. A collision between keeper Haylee Shoaff and a defender resulted in an own goal in the 41st minute.
Katee Wensinger started the second-half scoring for Miami (Ohio). She rebounded a Jess Kodiak shot and put it away to double the score in the 54th minute.
Kayla Zakrzewski (67th minute) and Kelly Sullivan (79th minute) wrapped up the scoring for the Redhawks.
Shoaff battled heroically in net, facing 20 total shots and making seven saves.
The Lady Govs were unable to match Miami (Ohio)'s offensive output. Austin Peay attempted 10 shots and put five on net, but couldn't beat the Redhawk defense for a goal. Junior Natalia Ariza and sophomore Claire Pultz each attempted three shots; Pultz put two on goal, while one of Ariza's found the mark. Pultz put both her attempts on net in the final 10 minutes of the match.
A long break awaits the Lady Govs, who do not play again for a week. Austin Peay begins a three-match homestand at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 14 against South Alabama.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 2, EVANSVILLE 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Madison Carter and Brooke Sill scored their first goals of the season as the Panther women’s soccer team defeated Evansville, 2-1, on Friday evening at McCutchan Stadium. EIU improves to 2-4 on the year.
Carter scored her first career goal in the 56th minute, heading the ball into the back of the net on a ball played off a corner kick by Allie Lakie. EIU added an insurance goal in the 70th minute when Sill netted her first goal of the season on a breakaway goal after obtaining possession at the top of the 18-yard box.
With six minutes remaining in the contest, Stephanie Thompson scored from 20 yards away – just outside the top of the box to get Evansville within one.
Evansville took 10 more shots (15-5) than EIU and recorded five more (7-2) corner kicks in the match.
Kristin Germann led the Panthers with three shots (one on goal) while Thompson paced the Purple Aces with seven shots (two on goal).
Jessica Taldone (1-4) posted her first win of the year between the pipes, making four saves while surrendering one goal. Chaviel Harrison (1-5) took the loss for Evansville as she allowed two goals and made one save in 71 minutes of action.
With the victory, the Panthers earned their first win at Evansville (entered the contest with a 0-6-1 road record) and improved to 4-8-2 in the all-time series. EIU head coach Summer Perala improved to 2-1 against the Purple Aces.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 9 when they play host to in-state foe Northern Illinois. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Lakeside Field.
MARSHALL 2, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Freshman forward Erin Simmons scored a pair of goals to give the Marshall soccer team a 2-0 victory over Morehead State at Jayne Stadium on Friday evening.
The win improved the Thundering Herd to 3-3-0 on the season, while the Eagles fell to 0-5-1.
Sophomore Holly Tilley led MSU with three shots on goal, while freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Floyd collected five saves.
Marshall picked up its first goal in the 40th minute off a shot from 10 yards and finished the scoring with a penalty kick in the 70th minute.
The Eagles are back in action on Sunday when they travel to Xavier.
KENNESAW STATE 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team ran into a hot Kennesaw State side on Friday night, as the Colonels fell to the Owls, 3-0, in their opening game of the College of Charleston Cup at Patriots Point.
Following a one-hour rain delay, KSU (3-3-0) – fresh off a 1-0 win over Arkansas last Sunday – struck quickly, as Katrina Frost got behind the Colonel defense and snuck a shot past freshman goalkeeper Erika Wolfer to put the Owls ahead in just the seventh minute.
Kelsey Barr then scored a pair of goals – one in the 14th minute and one in the 74th minute – to provide KSU with insurance.
EKU outshot KSU 13-7 in the game and 9-3 in the second half; however, the Colonels could not convert their chances. Senior Deja Tennon paced EKU with three shots on the night, one of which was on goal.
Tennon also played all 90 minutes of the game on the Colonel backline, as did fellow defender Emily D’Italia.
EKU returns to action on Sunday when the Colonels take on host College of Charleston at 2:30 p.m.
BELMONT 3, ALABAMA STATE 0
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Belmont women's soccer team (4-2) picked up its third shutout of the season on the road Friday night. The Bruins knocked off Alabama State (1-5), 3-0, to improve to 4-2 on the season.
The Bruins opened the first half aggressively, penetrating the Alabama Stat half of the field from the opening whistle. Just three minutes in, junior Katie Proud (Knoxville, Tenn.) netted the first goal of the night, her third of the year, taking on the Lady Hornet goalkeeper one on one up the middle of the box after receiving a pass from sophomore Rachel Schmidt (Dallas, Texas). Ignited by the goal, BU turned up the intensity another notch, trapping the ball deep in ASU territory. Barely five minutes later, Belmont was able to find the back of the net again, this time courtesy of senior Laura Harris (Macon, Ga.) who was lodged in heavy traffic just in front of the goal.
With a comfortable two goal lead, BU settled into its normal pace of ball control and heavy time of possession. Fresh legs began to emerge from the bench to keep the momentum flowing in Belmont's favor. Alabama State made its strongest effort of the half around the 30-minute mark but the attempt by Lenna Lamas flew over the Bruin crossbar. BU, who dominated in shots 11-4 in the half, was then able to play aggressive keep away for the waning minutes to carry its 2-0 advantage into the break.
Alabama State opened the second stanza attempting to match the intensity of Belmont's from the first half, even notching a pair of early shots. However, the Bruins were able to maintain their defensive strangle hold on the contest.
The clock ticked toward the final 20 minutes of regulation and Schmidt fired off a pair of shots that barely missed finding the back of the net. Finally, she used a rebounded ball from senior Spencer Laufer (Houston, Texas) to score Belmont's third of the night and her first of the season in the 72nd minute. The Bruins were able to easily hold onto their lead to cruise to the 3-0 victory.
The Bruins held the advantage in shots, 18-8, but the teams each sported two corner kicks. BU put the Lady Hornets goalkeeper to work, helping her to wrap the night with 11 saves to just two for Belmont.
Schmidt and freshman Cassie Blase (Waukesha, Wisc.) led the Bruins with four shots apiece. Katie Proud finished with three shots while sophomore Kim Elmore (Salem, Va.) and Laufer each added two.
Junior Nicole Berner (Randolph, N.J.) did the lion's share of duty between the posts, picking up one save before freshman Lindsay Espe (LaCanada, Calif.) notched the first of her career late in the second half.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday on the road at in-state rival Middle Tennessee State
JACKSONVILLE STATE 1, MCNEESE STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State and McNeese State played to a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Gamecock/Adidas Soccer Classic on Friday evening at the JSU Soccer Field.
The draw was the first of the year for both squads and snapped the Gamecocks' five-game winning streak. JSU entered its first home contest since Aug. 17 having put together five-straight wins away from Jacksonville. The Cowgirls moved to 2-3-1 on the season and will face Jackson State on Sunday at Noon.
McNeese State struck first in the 22nd minute as Callie Allbright took a Megan Rogers cross off of a corner kick and headed it past JSU keeper Katelyn Geddings. The goal was the first surrendered by Jax State since the Georgia State match – a span of four matches. The Cowgirls registered six of her 11 shots in the opening 45 minutes.
JSU had ample scoring opportunities in the first half, but could not send the ball into the net. The Gamecocks turned in 18 total shots for the 110 minutes played and had half of those shots recorded in the opening half. Senior Nathalee Lariviere posted a match-high five shots, including a trio on goal.
A sense of urgency was instilled by JSU in the second half as it pressured the Cowgirls on their half of the field. Sophomore Courtney Hurt netted the squad's lone goal from about 40 yards out in the 54th minute. Hurt sent the ball soaring toward the goal and took advantage of McNeese State's keeper coming after the ball and letting it sail past her and into the goal. The Huntsville, Ala.-native, who came off the bench, has now scored four goals this season.
The goal energized the Jax State contingent on and off the field throughout the rest of the contest, but could not secure the golden goal the rest of the way and into the overtime sessions. In the overtime, both teams combined for five shots with JSU having three chances.
Including Lariviere and Hurt, JSU had three other players post multiple shot attempts. Jackie Rush, Brianna Boutziouvis and Kelsey Bright finished with two each. Geddings registered seven saves in the contest.
The Gamecock/Adidas Soccer Classic continues on Sunday as the Cowgirls face Jackson State in the first match at Noon. JSU will take on the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State at 2:30 p.m. SCSU was a 2-0 winner over Jackson State in the first contest of the day. Admission is free to all matches at the JSU Soccer Field.
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