Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern State
SFA Outlasts Northwestern
10/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Junior Kim Kimmel assisted on Stephen F. Austin's first goal of the contest then knocked home the game-winner in a 3-2 verdict over Northwestern State Friday night at the SFA Soccer Complex. The win keeps the Ladyjacks in contention for a No. 2 seed in next weekend's Southland Conference Tournament.
SFA took the lead twice before Kimmel's goal, but, each time, Northwestern answered with a goal to tie the game. Kimmel delivered the knock-out blow in the 84th minute, just four minutes after the Demons' Sarah Sadler tied the game with her second goal of the night.
"What a great game for the fans and casual observer," SFA head coach George Van Linder said. "I am so proud of our team for battling back after each goal Northwestern scored.
"They weren't going to go down without a fight, and I was glad to see that, tonight, we were able to respond."
With the win SFA moves to 8-8-1 on the season and 5-2-1 in Southland play. Northwestern falls to 10-9-0 with a 3-5-0 mark in league action. With 16 points in league play, the Ladyjacks are now tied with Southeastern Louisiana for second in the conference. The Lions were scheduled to take on McNeese State Friday night, but the contest has been postponed until Saturday, due to poor weather.
In Nacogdoches, the Ladyjacks slogged their way to victory on a spongy field that had seen nearly a week's worth of steady rain.
Freshman Kylie Louw got SFA on the board in the 12th minute. Kimmel began the play by dribbling in from the left side near the top of the 18-yard box. She slipped a pass to Louw near the top right corner, and Louw squared up a hard shot past the goalkeeper to the left side.
SFA looked completely in command going into the break, as the Ladyjacks held a 19-0 edge in shot attempts at halftime. But the Demons evened the count early in the second half, when Sadler notched her first goal.
Sadler, the sister of SFA freshman Laura Sadler, settled a corner kick off the foot of Rachel O'Steen and beat SFA 'keeper Courtney Bauder with a low shot to the right from 10 yards out.
The Ladyjacks responded just two minutes later, when junior Camille Royer scored in the 63rd minute. She gathered in a loose ball out to the left of the goal box and lined up a shot toward the far post that found the net, giving SFA a 2-1 lead.
Sarah Sadler tied the score again in the 80th minute when she blasted a high shot from 25 yards out into the top of the net, just out of Bauder's reach. Maddy Hall was credited with an assist on the play.
Four minutes later, the Ladyjacks answered for the final time. SFA senior Kelli Wilson lined up a free kick from just outside the 18, and rattled a shot off the crossbar. Kimmel followed the shot in and controlled the rebound before sticking the ball in the back of an empty net.
The scoring strike is Kimmel's seventh of the season, tying her for the team lead. She paces the squad with three game-winners this year.
For the game, SFA finished with a season-high 35 shots, 15 of which were on goal. The Demons posted nine second-half shots, five of which found their mark.
Bauder recorded one save in picking up the win. SFA posted team saves on Northwestern's other two shots on goal. The first such play was a key one in the 54th minute when Jordan King raced in behind a sprawling Bauder to slide in front of a shot off the foot of Kayla King.
The win put the wraps on a big evening for SFA. In the team's inaugural "Kick Pink" game, aimed at raising breast cancer awareness, the Ladyjacks sported pink jerseys adorned with the names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer. The jerseys were auctioned off, along with other items, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
"To have an exciting game be a part of the kick pink event is wonderful," Van Linder said. "I hope we can continue to put on this event."
The Ladyjacks will wrap up the regular season Sunday afternoon, when SFA takes on Central Arkansas. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from the SFA Soccer Complex and will be followed by a Senior Day ceremony honoring the Ladyjacks' three seniors.
-- SFA --
