FRIDAY'S SCORES
Arkansas State 3,
@Murray State 2
Eastern Kentucky 1, @Western Carolina 0
Morehead State 2, @Bowling Green 1
@Elon 2,
Jacksovnille State 0
@Northern Kentucky 4
, Eastern Illinois 0
@UT Martin 3, Saint Louis 2 (OT)
@Evansville 3,
Austin Peay 0
@Belmont 2, Valparaiso 0
@SIUE 2, UIC 1
ARKANSAS STATE 3, MURRAY STATE 2
MURRAY, Ky. - Down 3-0 to Arkansas State, Julie Mooney scored two goals, including one with under two minutes play, to bring the Murray State women’s soccer team within one, but it was not enough as MSU dropped it season opener, 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Cutchin Field.
Despite an early barrage of shots by Murray State, it was the Red Wolves that were first on the board as Samhia Simao capitalized on a penalty kick in the 26th minute to give her team an early 1-0 lead. In the 33rd minute, Loren Mitchell intercepted a back pass, beat her defender and tapped the ball past MSU goalkeeper Savannah Haberman to give ASU a 2-0 lead at the break.
Early in the second half, Simao scored what would go on to be the game-winning goal when she converted on her second penalty kick of the afternoon to push the Red Wolves’ lead to 3-0. Friday’s penalty kicks put an end to a 24 match streak by the Racers of not giving up a penalty attempt.
However, in the 68th minute Mooney, last season’s leading scorer, picked up where she left off and netted a chip shot set up by Lyssie Wright to put MSU on the board at 3-1. With just 1:55 left in the game, Mooney gave MSU hope when she scored an unassisted goal to put her team within a goal. Mooney finished the day with 12 total shots, just three off her career high, with exactly half arriving on target. The two goals also ties a career high for the senior and will go down as the second brace of her career.
Despite a valiant effort in the last two minutes, the Racers were unable to come up with an equalizer and fell to Arkansas State for the third consecutive time. Despite coming up short on the score sheet, MSU enjoyed a 22-10 advantage in total shots in the match and a 10-7 edge in shots on goal.
In goal, Sara Wicks picked up the win for ASU as she made eight saves and allowed two goals over the full 90 minutes. Haberman also went the distance for MSU and made four saves with three goals allowed.
Murray State will now have a week off before returning to Cutchin Field next Friday to host Georgia State. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.
MOREHEAD STATE 2, BOWLING GREEN 1
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Morehead State soccer team claimed a 2-1 victory at Bowling Green in the 2014 season opener Friday at Cochrane Field. Senior midfielder Holly Tilley netted the match-winning goal in the 81st minute.
The Eagles won their season opener for the first time since 2010, while victory eluded the Mid-American Conference Falcons for the 34th time in as many matches dating back to 2012.
Tilley tallied the match-winner at 81:23 with a shot from the top right corner of the box to the far post. Senior Elizabeth McSparin was credited with the assist on the play, her fifth career helper.
Sophomore Angela Black, the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, scored her initial goal of the season and seventh of her career at 28:49. Following senior Caity Fox's corner kick, Black took possession and drilled a shot past Falcon goalkeeper Lauren Cadel. It marked Fox's second career assist.
The hosts found the back of the net first when Madison Schupbach slipped a shot past MSU junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Floyd. Skylar Fleak chased down a loose ball and fed a pass to Schupbach for the assist.
Morehead State fired 16 shots with four on goal. Senior midfielder Ali Hawksford led her team with five shots. BGSU managed six shots with just two on target. Floyd halted one Falcon shot, while Cadel stopped a pair of MSU attempts.
Morehead State continues its road swing on Sunday at Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m. ET. Live stats and live video links will be available on MSUEagles.com.
ELON 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
ELON, N.C. - The Jacksonville State soccer team opened the 2014 season with a 2-0 road loss at Elon on Friday night at Rudd Field on the Elon campus.
The Gamecocks were searching for their second-straight season-opening win, but the Phoenix registered a goal in each period for the opening win. Last season, Jax State ushered in the Neil Macdonald regime with a 1-0 win at McNeese State. JSU will look for a spilt of its tour of the state of North Carolina on Sunday afternoon with a visit to Boiling Springs to face Gardner-Webb. Match time is set for 12 p.m. CST.
It didn't take Elon long to record the first goal of the season as Grace Bennett netted a ball just past the nine-minute mark. The Gamecocks' defense weather a strong offensive attack by the Phoenix in the opening 45 minutes as they were credited with 11 shots in the half and finished with 14 total shots.
Freshman Caroline Robinson made her first career collegiate start in goal. The Hendersonville, Tenn.-native made five stops in her first collegiate action.
JSU's offensive threat was limited by the Phoenix as it was only allowed five shots. The Gamecocks had a pair of scoring chances in the opening half by a pair of shot on goal opportunities from senior Lindsey Jackson. The Marietta, Ga.-product was the lone Gamecock with multiple shots.
The Phoenix added an insurance goal in the 65th minute of the contest. Mel Insley connected on a free kick from nearly 40 yards out to post the second goal of the evening.
Live stats and live video links will be available for the GWU contest at JSUGamecockSports.com.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 1, WESTERN CAROLINA 0
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Freshman Emmi Carroll scored the game-winner in the 70th minute and freshman goalkeeper Anna Hall notched a shutout in her first collegiate game as the Eastern Kentucky University soccer team went on the road and blanked host Western Carolina, 1-0, in its 2014 season opener on Friday night.
Following a scoreless first half, Carroll received a pass from sophomore Mikayla Brillon in the 70th minute and headed in the difference maker.
The Catamounts outshot the Colonels 11-2 in the second half and attempted a barrage following Carroll’s go-ahead score; however, Hall and the EKU defense held on for the final 30 minutes and grinded out the impressive road win.
Hall made three saves en route to her first-career shutout.
Brillon, senior Emily D’Italia and junior Merrissa Vault played all 90 minutes on EKU’s backline to help stifle WCU. Junior Katie Bright and freshman Logan Harvey also went the distance in the midfield.
EKU will return home to host Alabama A&M in its home opener on Friday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Lighting caused a long delay and shortened the Eastern Illinois women's soccer season opener but not before host Northern Kentucky was able to get on the board for a 4-0 win on Friday night.
NKU scored three goals in the first half as they fired ten shots on goal during the game. Kelsey Laumann scored just 3:13 into the season to put NKU up 1-0. The Norse followed with a goal by Macy Hamblin in the 12th minute.
EIU had only four shots for the game with three on goal as lighting in the area caused a delay at the 71:46 mark. With severe weather scheduled to remain in the area, both schools agreed to finalize the game.
NKU's third goal came just before halftime with Sami Rutowski finding the back of the net at the 40 minute mark. The final goal came just seconds before the lighting delay as Jessica Frey scored.
Lauren Hoppensteadt had two of the Panthers shots on goal with Lauren Rusk adding the other. NKU keeper Tanner Ruberg made all three saves. EIU keeper Emily Hinton finished with six saves.
EIU returns to action on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. home match against Indiana State at Lakeside Field.
EVANSVILLE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - After a solid first-half performance in the season-opener at Evansville, Austin Peay State University women's soccer team gave up three second-half goals to fall 3-0 to the Purple Aces in non-conference action.
For just the second time since 2010, Austin Peay takes the loss in the season opener, last losing 2-1 to Arkansas in 2012 – a season that ended with Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship match. The loss also drops the Lady Govs to 0-5-0 all-time against the Purple Aces.
A back-and-forth first half saw sophomore Nikki Filippone make a pair of nice saves in net, denying Abby Springer in the 30th minute and Montana Portenier in the 38th. She was helped a little by the iron later in the half, when a Carlie Scales shot hit the post.
Senior Claire Pultz accounted for all the Lady Govs offensive chances in the first half, firing a shot high in the third minute and forcing a save out of Evansville's Simone Busby in the 30th.
Evansville would roar out of the gate in the second half, challenging sophomore Katie Emig early and often after she entered in net following the break. Bronwyn Boswell accounted for the first two Evansville tallies, going far post in the 50th minute and taking a deflected cross and hammering it home in the 56th minute.
The Purple Aces final score came off a 59th-minute corner kick. Emily Richardson served it in and Caitie Dierkes found Noor Medlej to put it away.
The Lady Govs found no offensive solutions in the final half. Sophomore Merritt Monger forced another save from Busby in the 47th minute, while freshman Sophia Fabbro made a nice challenge against Whitney Biggs in the 86th minute.
Emig settled down in the second half and made two saves, but was ultimately saddled with the loss. Busby got the victory for Evansville.
Austin Peay returns to Clarksville for Sunday's home opener against Chattanooga. Due to anticipated heat index issues, first kick has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. (CT).
SIUE 2, UIC 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer posted its first win of the season with a 2-1 victory Friday night over UIC.\
Senior Michelle Auer started the game off with a goal in the fifth minute, on a header from three yards out. She was assisted by freshman Sydney Moore.
SIUE struck again early in the second half at the 53 minute mark with a goal from freshman Emily Grahl. Auer assisted the play.
The freshmen presence was felt again tonight as five started (Moore, Grahl, Rachel Brots, Caroline Hoefert, and Kelsey Pruett) and two were involved in each goal.
A late run by the Flames came at the 80 minute mark, making the score 2-1. Jasmine Carrera made the tally from short range at 80:38. The Cougars were able to hold the lead to earn the win.
SIUE outshot the Flames 15-8. SIUE goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley grabbed two saves.
The Cougars play next Friday at IUPUI at 6 p.m.
BELMONT 2, VALPARAISO 1
VALPARAISO, Ind. - The Belmont women's soccer team opened the 2014 campaign with a win on the road Friday night thanks to newcomer Belicia Mendiola. The Bruins (1-0) defeated Valparaiso (0-1), 2-1.
Mendiola netted both of Belmont's goals in her collegiate debut. Classmate Tara Austin assisted on the first goal of the night just five minutes into the second stanza. The Crusaders bounced back with an equalizer goal 11 minutes later. The teams remained stalemated until the final two minutes when Mendiola found the back of the net again unassisted to secure the win for BU.
Junior Lindsey Espe went the distance between the posts and collected four saves on the night.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday with its home opener at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins host in-state rival MTSU beginning at 2 p.m.
UT MARTIN 3, SAINT LOUIS 2
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s soccer team got the season off on the right foot on Friday evening, as the Skyhawks received three goals from a pair of newcomers, led by the play of junior Rianna Jarrett who tallied two goals on the evening including a late goal in overtime to seal the 3-2 victory at Skyhawk Field.
The Skyhawks (1-0) won their regular season opener for the first time since 2011 after notching the golden goal in the 95
th minute of the match. With the overtime victory, the Skyhawks have held their opponents scoreless in eight consecutive overtime periods dating back to last season. The Skyhawks used a pair of goals from Jarrett in the 17
th and 95
th minute, along with a Jarrett putback goal by freshman Olivia Bohlman in the 42
nd minute to round out the offensive front.
Jarrett led all players with eight shot attempts, including five shots placed on goal in 88 minutes of action. Senior Alyssa Curtis tallied four shot attempts while Saphyra Coombs-James, Bohlman and Ellie Myrick each tallied a pair of attempts on the night.
Senior goalkeeper Mariah Klenke (1-0) played all 95 minutes for the Skyhawks, tallying eight saves on the evening. She allowed just two goals on 20 shot attempts by the Billikens.
Saint Louis (0-1) battled the Skyhawks tough, scoring their first goal of the evening just over one minute into the game by Kirsten Clemens. After giving up a pair of unanswered goals to the Skyhawks, the Billikens would strike again in the 85
th minute to find the equalizer off the foot of Lindsay Elking. Goalkeeper Hanna Benben played the entirety of the game, notching seven saves despite allowing three goals.
The match got off to a rough start for the Skyhawks as just over a minute into the match, starting defenseman Kaci Mitchell went down with an injury, allowing the Billikens a slight advantage which would be punctuated by Clemens with a goal at the 1:16 mark of the first.
Just two minutes later, starting midfielder Deborah Schaudt suffered an injury which would end her night, leaving the Skyhawks down two freshman starters just four minutes into the game.
The Skyhawks would respond in the 17
th minute as they fired three shot attempts on goal against the Billikens before finding the needed equalizer at the 16:19 mark. Curtis got the action started with a clear shot which ricocheted off the cross bar and into the path of Myrick for a shot attempt of her own. Benben would tally the save off Myrick’s shot, but Jarrett would find the rebound off the save and fire a missile of her own into the back of the net for her first career goal.
Both teams would jockey for field possession in the closing minutes of the first half before the Skyhawks would strike yet again at the 41:02 mark. Jarrett dribbled into the box, and fired a shot at goal before Benben got just enough of a deflection to push the ball away. With the ball teetering on edge of the goal, Bohlman – a fellow newcomer – got the final touch to score her first career goal and give the Skyhawks the 2-1 advantage right before the half.
The Billikens would come out as the aggressors in the second half, outshooting the Skyhawks 10 to 5 in the second period. Their aggression would pay off in the 85
th minute as Elking sailed a deep lob from the right side of the pitch, over Klenke’s outstretched arms for the game’s equalizer.
With the matched knotted at two as regulation came to a close, the Skyhawks and Billikens would head to sudden-death overtime. As the 10 minute overtime period got underway, the Billikens controlled much of the tempo, firing three shot attempts in just a matter of minutes. Their momentum would be short-lived however as Jarrett tallied her second goal of the evening, and first game-winner, with a five yard strike to lift the Skyhawks to a 3-2 victory in the regular season opener.
UT Martin will have to wait to return to action after the Sunday, Aug. 24 scheduled non-conference matchup between Southeast Missouri has been postponed indefinitely due to excessive heat expected over the weekend. The Skyhawks will be back at Skyhawk Field on Sunday, Aug. 31 when they play Indiana State at 1 p.m.