Stephen F. Austin
Grambling St.
SFA Thumps Grambling State
9/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 30, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team overcame a short bench Sunday in defeating Grambling State, 4-1, at the SFA Soccer Complex. Sophomore forward Erika Palmacci scored two goals -- the first multi-goal game of her career -- to lead the way for the Ladyjacks.
SFA began the game with five injured starters out of uniform and was forced to use its lone substitution in the 19th minute after forward Brenna Crocket left the game injured. By that point, though, the Ladyjacks had already spotted themselves a 2-0 lead, thanks to goals by Lauren Fricks and Palmacci.
Fricks' score came in the 17th minute. She took a pass at the top right corner of the goal box and slipped a defender to get in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. As the 'keeper came out, Fricks dodged to her left and easily put the ball in the empty net.
The Ladyjacks padded their lead a minute later on another empty-net goal. The Grambling goalkeeper deflected a shot by Fricks but tipped the ball right toward Palmacci who knocked it home to give SFA a 2-0 advantage.
Grambling got on the board in the 53rd minute, when Obafemi Alao finished off a Lady Tiger run with a hard, low shot that snuck past SFA 'keeper Crystin Pactor just inside the near post. But that attempt would be the Lady Tigers' only shot on goal for the afternoon, as the Ladyjack defense smothered the rest of Grambling's attacks. In all, SFA outshot the Lady Tigers, 33-4, with 12 shots on goal.
Palmacci got her second goal in the 74th minute when she took a pass from freshman Brittney Barker in the goal box with a defender on her back. Palmacci turned inside and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot to the right corner of the net.
Sophomore Kelli Wilson set the final score when she settled a rebound off the Grambling cross bar and put it away from point-blank range with 20 minutes left in the game.
The win improves SFA's record to 4-3-1, while Grambling falls to 4-6-0. The Ladyjacks will open Southland Conference play Friday when they host Sam Houston State in a 7 p.m. match.
-- SFA --
