Stephen F. Austin
Texas-San Antonio
SFA Comeback Bid Falls Short
10/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 1, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Texas-San Antonio took charge early in Sunday's Southland Conference soccer game against Stephen F. Austin and weathered a late storm by the Ladyjacks to leave with a 2-1 victory. SFA fell to 5-7-0 overall and 1-2-0 in Southland Conference play.
The Roadrunners (4-7-1, 1-0-1) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. After thwarting an SFA offensive push on the game's first possession, UTSA played a pair of long passes down the field to get behind the Ladyjack defense. Then Celeste Carruth played the ball ahead to Svetlana Dmitriakov, who chipped a shot over SFA goalkeeper Francesca Tierno and into the net, giving UTSA a 1-0 advantage just a minute-and-a-half into the contest.
UTSA added a second goal in the 23rd minute. This time, Veronica Najera did the scoring. Tierno came out hard to smother a loose ball, but couldn't hold onto it. With the Ladyjack 'keeper on the ground, Najera took advantage and scored easily from the top right corner of the six-yard box. The Roadrunners went to the half with a 2-0 edge.
Playing a man down for most of the game after Summer Bradfield was issued a red card in the 22nd minute, the Ladyjacks mounted a furious attack early in the second half. SFA took 12 of its 19 shots after halftime and seven of the Ladyjacks' eight shots on goal came in the second period.
The onslaught paid dividends in the 55th minute, when sophomore forward Amanda Alders scored off a pass from senior Shahin Pabani. The goal was Alders' sixth of the season and drew the Ladyjacks within one. SFA could not convert on any of its other scoring opportunities, though. UTSA goalkeeper Rachel Francis posted six second-half saves, and the Roadrunners slowed the game's pace late in the contest.
The Ladyjacks will next play on Friday, Oct. 6, when they take on McNeese State in the first of a two-game Louisiana road trip. SFA will meet Northwestern State on Oct. 8.
-- SFA --
