Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana Tech
SFA Blasts Louisiana Tech
9/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Seven different Ladyjacks tallied goals Friday night as Stephen F. Austin dominated Louisiana Tech, 7-2, at the SFA Soccer Complex. The offensive barrage began with three goals in the game's first four minutes and held up all night, as the Ladyjacks fired off 35 shots -- 18 of which were on goal.
The win improves SFA's record to 3-2-1 on the season and gives the Ladyjacks 12 goals in their last two games. SFA was coming off a 5-1 victory at Oral Roberts last weekend. Third-year head coach Jaime Frias said the scoring explosion is the culmination of increased focus on converting offensive opportunities.
"There's no difference in the kind or the number of opportunities we're getting," Frias said. "We've been creating those chances for ourselves all season. What's changed is that we've gotten better at finishing those chances. We've spent a good deal of time working on that in practice, so it's nice to see."
Friday night, it didn't take long for the Ladyjacks to put their newly refined skills on display. Starting with an unassisted goal by sophomore midfielder Kelli Wilson at the 1:27 mark, SFA scored three times in just two minutes and 14 seconds to take a commanding lead.
The first goal sequence began with a corner kick by junior midfielder Summer Bradfield. She sent a high, arching cross to the far side of the goal box where classmate Jessica Cotton headed it strongly toward the goal. The shot clanged off the cross bar, but Wilson pounced on the rebound and headed it past the Louisiana Tech goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.
Freshman Kesia Broome got her first career goal at the 2:50 mark. Bradfield again started the play, sending a cross from the right side of the field to the far side of the goal box where junior midfielder Lauren Fricks was waiting. Fricks headed the ball back to the center of the box, where Broome flicked it past the 'keeper on her first touch.
The Ladyjacks went ahead 3-0, when sophomore forward Erika Palmacci found herself shooting from nearly the same spot, this time on a pass from Broome. She nudged a low shot to the goalkeeper's left to finish the play and record her second goal of the season.
The Lady Techsters got on the board in the 12th minute on a goal by Kiva Gresham, but SFA stretched the lead back out to three at the 37:43 mark. Broome picked up her second assist of the night when she found sophomore forward Brenna Crockett alone in the goal box. Crocket fired a low shot past the 'keeper's right-hand side to make it a 4-1 game.
"We've had a lot of different people stepping up," Frias said. "It's not just one person scoring all the goals, which is great to see. It was the same for us in the Oral Roberts game, as well. We're getting a lot of people involved in the attack, and it's good to see our players gaining confidence in their ability to finish their scoring opportunities."
SFA showed off more of that confidence in the second half, this time starting even quicker than in the opening period. Sophomore forward Megan Cash took possession on a long pass from the Ladyjack backfield and outran her defender down the left sideline to get a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. From about 15 yards out, she flicked a high shot toward the far post over a charging goalie to get SFA back on the board just 55 seconds into the second half. The goal was Cash's first on the year.
Freshman Sarah Gregory notched her first goal of the season 23 minutes later. She dribbled around a pair of defenders on the left side of the goal box then wedged a shot between the 'keeper and the near post from a difficult angle close to the end line to make it a 6-1 game.
SFA's final goal came in the 77th minute when Cotton blasted a free kick into the top of the net from 40 yards out. It was her second goal of the season.
The Lady Techsters set the final score when Denise Wilson chipped home a shot to finish off a long run in the 81st minute.
SFA goalkeeper Crystin Pactor earned the decision, improving her record to 3-2-1. She recorded three saves with one goal allowed in 54 minutes. Freshman Courtney Bauder played the final 35 minutes, allowing one goal and recording a save.
The Ladyjacks will return to action Sunday when they travel to Austin, Texas, to take on the University of Texas. The game against the Longhorns will be the first in program history. Texas (5-1-1) is currently the No. 4 team in the nation and is coming off a 4-0 win over Houston Friday night.
-- SFA --
