FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Georgia State 2,
Belmont 1
Kent State 2,
@Eastern Kentucky 1
Troy 3,
@Tennessee Tech 0
@Southeast Missouri 1, Arkansas State 0
SIUE 1, Missouri State 0 (OT)
Austin Peay 3, Kennesaw State 1
@UMKC 1,
Eastern Illinois 0
GEORGIA STATE 2, BELMONT 1
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Despite a strong comeback effort, the Belmont women's soccer team (1-5-1) was held off on the road Friday afternoon. The Bruins rebounded but fell, 2-1, at Georgia State (6-0-2).
The first stanza got off to a quick start with GSU notching back-to-back corner kicks in the first four minutes of action. The Panthers stayed on the hunt for a scoring opportunity but the Bruins dug in their collective heels and interrupted several passes and crosses. The onslaught paid off as the Panthers found the back of the net for the lone goal of the first stanza in the 21st minute. Undaunted, Belmont continued to fight on.
Three minutes later, BU earned a corner kick and but saw its on goal attempt blocked. Both teams kept fresh legs in the rotation and the new energy only bolstered Belmont's defensive effort as the first half wound down. The final shot of the half would come from freshman Megan Michela (Carol Stream, Ill.) but GSU was able to come away with the save to secure a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.
The second half was more evenly matched with each team tallying five shots but it would be the Bruins who would be the early aggressor. Junior Brittany Coca (Riverview, Fla.) notched the first shot of the half in the 54th minute after intense back and forth action on both sides of the midline. Three minutes later, sophomore Tara Austin (Beaumont, Texas) would fire a rocket toward the Georgia State goal.
In the 61st minute, GSU would notch what would become the gamewinner off a header. Despite the two goal deficit, the Bruins continued to fight on the hunt for a chance to close the gap. The opportunity finally came in the 77th minute. Freshman Emily Whitcomb (Elmhurst, Ill.) drilled an unassisted shot that got past the Panthers' keeper to get the Bruins on the board. GSU doubled down on its defensive efforts as the Bruins ramped up their intensity. As time neared expiration, Belmont saw one more chance. In the 87th minute, a Michela header nearly missed the mark. The Panthers burned the clock for the remainder of regulation to hold on for the 2-1 victory.
Austin and Michela led BU with two shots apiece.
Between the posts, junior Stephanie Bukovec (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) finished with three saves.
Georgia State held the advantage in shots, 14-7, and corner kicks, 10-3.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday at Rose Park. The Bruins host Troy beginning at 3 p.m. The matchup can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network. Live stats and an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWSoccer) will also be available.
KENT STATE 2, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - Freshman Kacy Eckley scored her first career goal in the first half, but the Eastern Kentucky University soccer team fell in overtime to visiting Kent State, 2-1, on Friday afternoon at EKU Soccer Field.
EKU struck first, as Eckley headed in a goal off a corner kick from junior Cassie Smith to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Kent State (4-2-2), however, tied it in the 39th minute on a penalty kick from Jenna Hellstrom.
The second half was a defensive battle with no goals being scored, thanks in part to sophomore Anna Hall setting a new team high for the season with 10 saves. This was Hall’s first start of the year. She was injured through much of non-conference play.
Two minutes into overtime, Kent State’s Karli Paracca scored the golden goal from four yards out to end the game.
EKU was led on the day by Eckley. The freshman played all 92 minutes of the match and attempted a team-best two shots on goal. Along with Eckley, Smith, senior Katie Bright and sophomores Haley Kemper and Jordan Foster all attempted two shots in the game.
Kent State – which has now won three consecutive games – was paced by Hellstrom and Abbie Lawson, both of whom attempted six shots in the overtime victory.
The Colonels open conference play against Murray State on Thursday, September 24, at 4:00 p.m. in Richmond.
TROY 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A score in the latter stages of each half, coupled with a goal early in the second, proved to be more than enough for Troy University in its 3-0 victory over the Tennessee Tech soccer team amidst a sun soaked afternoon at Tech Soccer Field. The defeat ends TTU's four-match unbeaten streak.
Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles (2-4-2) tallied double-digit shots for the second consecutive match and third time this season, ending the affair with 10 rips. Sophomore Zoie Hensley paced the Tech attack with three, two of which were on-goal.
The defeat ends a run of six straight matches in which Tech has allowed fewer than two goals, and the contest marks the first time this year in which TTU has yielded more than two scores in a match.
With the match deadlocked at 0-0 in the concluding moments of the first period, the Trojans (6-2-0) stole the tilt's momentum with a goal that carried Troy into intermission with a 1-0 edge. Nearly destined for a scoreless opening stanza, sophomore Natalie Melillo and senior Payton Donely had other ideas.
With 2:30 left until the break, Melillo laced a cross from well outside that clipped off the noggin of Donley and into the back of the net in what was the Woodstock, Ga. native's first goal of the season. The assist was also the first of the year for Melillo.
The Trojans would go on to pad their lead early on in the second half, scoring in the 55th minute behind a Chelsey Miller unassisted goal. The senior, and Troy all-time leader in career goals and points, split through a pair of Tech defenders and blasted one past the try of freshman goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann to extend the Trojan margin to 2-0.
Following the score, the Golden Eagles turned things up offensively en route to three corners in the span of just five minutes from the 65th to 70th minute, and had a prime opportunity to leap on the scoreboard in the 66th minute. Behind a beautiful ball from junior Marissa Rouse, sophomore Zoie Hensely raced past the Trojan defense with just the keeper to beat.
Ultimately the Ranchos de Taos N.M. native's attempt went begging, after freshman Sydnay Tucker went into a dive to block the shot away. Tucker ended the match with four saves for her first collegiate shutout. Across the way, Naerdemann registered five halts.
Troy would add a final score in the 89th minute, using a Brooke McKee goal to cap off the match at 3-0. The 5-foot-6 freshman cradled in a pass from junior Haley Roberson, who earned the assist on the play, before blasting one between the pipes for her third goal of the season. McKee led the match with six shots, three of which were on-goal.
Tech closes out its non-conference slate Sunday afternoon, hosting in-state foe Chattanooga at 1 p.m. CT.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1, ARKANSAS STATE 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri soccer team (4-3-1) defeated Arkansas State (2-7) Friday, 1-0.
Jennifer Antonacci's 51st minute goal was enough to be the difference maker in the match to down the Red Wolves, 1-0.
In their nine all-time meetings, Southeast remains unbeaten against Arkansas State and has never allowed a goal to them.
The Redhawks and Red Wolves played to a scoreless draw in the first half of play. The Rehawks got five shots off in the half and had four corner kick opportunities. Each team had four fouls in the first 45 minutes of play.
At the beginning of the second half, Southeast made a change in goal. Alyssa Sickler, who played the entire first half, was replaced by Kindra Lierz.
The game-winning goal came in the 51st minute from Antonacci. Blankenheim slotted Antonacci in the box who put it in for her second goal of the season.
Arkansas State stepped up the offense in the second half, putting up seven shots, but could only manage to put one on goal which came in the 74th minute.
Southeast finished the match outshooting A-State, 14-9, and had two more corner kick opportunities, 6-4. Southeast was called for 10 fouls while the Red Wolves had five.
Natasha Minor was Southeast's shots leader with four in the match. Abby Klintworth, Jenna Collingridge, and Antonacci each had two.
Katherine Padgett and Tayler Carter each had three shots for the Red Wolves.
Sickler and Lierz combined for the shutout. Lierz (3-3-1) picked up the win. Lierz recorded the only save of the game for the Redhawks.
Kelsey Ponder (1-5) suffered the loss. Ponder played all 90 minutes, allowed one goal, and recorded four saves.
The evening also featured a special presentation of the Meghan Herndon Memorial Scholarship. This year, the scholarship was presented to Ashley Brendel and Minor. The Herndon family was on hand for the presentation as well as donated $7,500 to the endowed scholarship.
The Redhawks return to the pitch on Sunday with a road game at Union University.
UMKC 1, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Eastern Illinois turned away 12 Kansas City shots on goal on Friday but it was the 13th shot coming just under two minutes into the first overtime period that lifted Kansas City to a 1-0 win over EIU women’s soccer.
The Panthers had eight shots on goal with two each by Molly Hawkins, Hannah Miller and Kathleen MacKinnon.
UMKC goalkeeper Nina Tzianos was up to the task as she turned away all eight EIU shots on goal.
EIU freshman goalkeeper Maddie Lyon was impressive during regulation as she made 11 saves with another save credited to the team.
One minute, 47 seconds into overtime the heavy pressure from UMKC broke through as Lexie Howard scored unassisted beating both the defender and goalkeeper to the far post for the game’s lone goal.
EIU’s other shots on goal were by Briana Hickman and Emily Wolf as the Panthers played their third overtime contest this season. EIU dropped to 1-6-1. UMKC improved to 6-2.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday afternoon hosting Chicago State at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Field. The game will serve as the Panthers senior day match for this season.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, KENNESAW STATE 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - With three goals scored by three different players, Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team rode its offensive momentum to a 3-1 victory over Kennesaw State, Friday, at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.
The Lady Govs (3-4-0) have won two-straight matches with 10 goals combined in the two wins, while the Owls (3-5-1) have now lost three in a row.
Kennesaw State came out aggressive from the start, earning a corner kick in the early stages. However, the APSU defense held its ground throughout the first half with just one shot taken by the visitors. Junior Gina Fabbro opened the scoring in the 12th minute, taking a pass from freshman McKenzie Dixon in the center of the pitch before making a turn and slotting it past the keeper.
It’s the fourth goal in three games for Fabbro, who later assisted on Austin Peay’s second score of the night. From the left flank, Fabbro served a through ball to the feet of senior Shelby Olszewski, who faked the oncoming keeper out for a free shot at goal in the 22nd minute.
The Lady Govs held a 4-1 shot advantage in a defensive first half, while sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Todd gave way to senior Nikki Filippone at the break after making one save.
In the 53rd minute, the Owls scored off a corner kick by Ida Hepsoe with Kim Fincher heading home the delivery to pull within one goal.
Kennesaw State outshot APSU 6-4 in the second half, but free kick specialist, Dixon, supplied the dagger in the 87th. After converting a free kick from roughly 20-25 yards out last Friday, Dixon delivered a soaring ball over a wall of three defenders, powering it just under the crossbar from 30 yards away.
Junior Nicole Wojcik led the Lady Govs in shots with three, while Olszewski followed closely behind with two. Cassidy Kemp paced the Kennesaw State attack with three shots.
Austin Peay concludes its three-game homestand, 2 p.m., Sunday, against Alabama State. The contest will feature senior recognitions taking place prior to kickoff.
SIUE 1, MISSOURI STATE 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer recorded their fourth win of the season in a double overtime victory over Missouri State Friday to close out the nonconference season.
The Cougars improve to 3-4-2 while the Bears fall to 4-3-1. The shutout was the fifth of the season for SIUE.
SIUE mounted a dominating offensive attack that led to 19 total shots on the game. Despite the high number of opportunities, neither team could find a way to score in regulation.
Cassidy Sherman and Katye Skrivan led the Cougars with four shots apiece, but it was sophomore Ashlyn Walter who came up big for the Cougars in the second overtime period.
With under two minutes to play, Walter stole the ball from the Bears just past midfield and took the ball several yards up the field where she unleashed a 30-yard shot, hitting the crossbar before entering the back of the net.
The goal was Walter's second of the year and of her career, and the only shot she recorded during the game.
Goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley came up with five saves on the game, including several plays that kept the Cougars alive. The shutout is Pelley's 26th of her career, extending on her career record in all-time saves.
The Cougars begin the Ohio Valley Conference season on the road Friday against Southeast Missouri and Sunday against UT Martin. Game times are set for 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. CT, respectively.