Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Ladyjacks Bombard Nicholls State
10/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 22, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team notched a hat trick in each half, and sophomores Lauren Fricks and Amanda Alders each recorded the feat individually Sunday, as the Ladyjacks knocked off Nicholls State, 6-2. SFA packed its scoring into a pair three-goal flurries that each took less than five minutes. The victory improved SFA's record to 8-7-1 on the year and 4-2-1 in Southland Conference play, while Nicholls State fell to 4-13-1 and 1-6-0.
The Ladyjacks wasted no time against the Colonels, taking the lead with a goal by Fricks a mere 38 seconds into the game. Fricks scored with a high shot to the far post from the top right corner of the 12-yard box. She was set up for the goal by the first of two assists from Alders.
The duo hooked up again, less than three minutes later, this time more by chance than design. Alders broke in on net and took a low shot that caromed off Nicholls goalkeeper Sarah Neunzig. Fricks collected the ball and scored easily.
In the sixth minute, it was Alders' turn to score. She took a long pass from senior forward Shahin Pabani and outraced the Nicholls backs, finishing with a shot from nearly the same spot as Fricks' first goal.
Nicholls struck back in the 32nd minute when Ashley Bock scored on a one-touch play off a ricochet from point-blank range. The goal left SFA with a 3-1 halftime lead.
The score stayed that way until the Ladyjacks put together another scoring barrage midway through the second half. Fricks picked up her third goal of the game in the 68th minute when she got a good pass from Pabani at close range and headed the ball toward the net. It bounced past a diving Jeanice Geare -- who replaced Neunzig in net to start the period -- glanced off the right post and rolled in to put SFA ahead, 4-1.
The Ladyjacks scratched again, less than a minute later. This time Alders took possession of the ball near the Nicholls end line left of the goal. She dribbled past Geare and scored easily with an empty net.
Alders capped the SFA scoring in the 73rd minute, when she beat Geare with a low shot from the top of the 12-yard box, following a pass from freshman defender Jessica Huggins.
Nicholls' Jessica Schwartz set the final score in the 78th minute when she snuck a high shot from 20 yards out past SFA 'keeper Francesca Tierno. Tierno (5-4-1) finished with two saves, as the Ladyjack defense held Nicholls to seven shots. SFA fired off 11 shots in each half and put 14 of its 22 attempts on goal.
The SFA win, coupled with a Northwestern State loss, leaves the Ladyjacks in third place in the SLC points race. Southeastern Louisiana and Texas-San Antonio, both of whom won Sunday, lead the league. SFA will finish off its regular-season schedule on Friday, Oct. 27, when the Ladyjacks host Texas State on senior night. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.
-- SFA --
