Stephen F. Austin
Nebraska
Nebraska Comes From Behind To Clip SFA
9/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. - For the second straight game, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team was done in by a tough second half, as the Ladyjacks dropped a 2-1 decision at Nebraska on Sunday. SFA held a 1-0 lead into the 34th minute but were unable to answer the Cornhuskers' tying goal and couldn't muster much of an offensive attack in the second period.
The loss moves the Ladyjacks to 2-5-0 on the season and keeps SFA winless on the road. Nebraska improves to 4-4-1.
"Losing and difficult times always reveal a team's character, and I am certainly proud of the way this team fought," head coach George Van Linder said. "Despite what the stats say, everyone at the game knew we had chances to win it. If we continue to play with this intensity through the rest of our schedule, Lumberjacks everywhere will be proud of their team."
SFA came out strong early against the Cornhuskers. The Ladyjacks had taken their first shot less than 90 seconds into the contest, and their aggression paid off with a corner kick opportunity at the 1:40 mark. Senior Summer Bradfield lined up the kick, and SFA got a fortuitous bounce, as the ball deflected off Nebraska goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil for the Ladyjacks' first road goal of the season.
The Cornhuskers responded by attacking the SFA net. Nebraska bounced two shots off the post in the 12 minutes immediately following Bradfield's goal and put three shots on goal before finally cashing in and tying the score. The answering strike came in the 34th minute, when Molly Thomas ran down a long pass and slipped a low shot past SFA 'keeper Coutney Bauder to the right.
The 'Huskers added one more shot on goal and hit the post again before the end of the half, but Bauder and the SFA back line took their team to intermission nursing the 1-1 tie.
Nebraska outshot the Ladyjacks, 16-8, in the opening period but only held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Coming out of halftime, Nebraska tightened down on defense, holding SFA without a shot until the clock showed fewer than eight minutes left in second period. The Cornhuskers got the decisive goal in the 73rd minute on a free kick by Anna Caniglia from 40 yards out. The play followed a red card on Ladyjack senior Amanda Lackey, SFA's first of the season.
The Ladyjacks finished with just two second-half shots, one on goal. Nebraska held a 31-10 advantage in shots by game's end and led, 12-5, in shots on goal. Bauder finished with 10 saves in 90 minutes of action.
The Ladyjacks will return home on Sunday, Sept. 28, to take on Prairie View A&M. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start from the SFA Soccer Complex.
-- SFA --
