Ladyjacks Shut Out Lions
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2005
HAMMOND, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team's youth came together with its experience Friday night to get the job done. A pair of freshmen handled all the scoring, and senior goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki took care of the defense in a 3-0 road win over Southeastern Louisiana that improved the Ladyjacks to 2-0 in Southland Conference play.
Freshman forward Amanda Alders added to her team scoring lead with two quick goals, and classmate Amanda Lackey tacked on an insurance score late in the second half. Those goals were more than Michalezki and the SFA defense would need. The senior keeper recorded six saves -- four in the second half -- to post her fifth shutout of the season.
"We got on the scoreboard early, and that's something we talked about doing throughout the week," SFA head coach Jaime Frias said. "So that was good to see."
Alders put one in the net less than eight minutes into the match. Sophomore Keyli Townsend was credited with an assist on the goal. Alders was at it again in the 28th minute when she put away her team-leading eighth goal of the season, this time unassisted.
"Amanda is maturing and growing as a player," Frias said, "as are all of our freshmen."
Lackey's season goals total did some growing in the second half. She got behind the Lions' defense and scored unassisted on a breakaway in the 88th minute. It was her fourth goal of the year, putting her in second behind Alders.
"Other than the two goals," Frias said, "the first half was pretty evenly played. But we controlled the ball better in the second half and created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities. It paid off with that late goal."
Meanwhile, Michalezki snuffed out any opportunities Southeastern Louisiana was able to create. The Lions fired off 10 shots, including seven after halftime, but none found the net.
"Natascia Michalezki had an exceptional game today," Frias said. "Southeastern was driving a good number of balls into our box, and Natascia did a good job of coming out to deny those attacks to keep us in the game and preserve the shutout."
Michalezki's season record now stands at 7-3. She has recorded 58 saves this season.
The Ladyjacks (8-3, 2-0) will next play on Sunday against Nicholls State. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Thibodaux, La.
-- SFA --
