Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Ladyjacks Suffer Heartbreaking Loss
11/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2009
NATCHITOCHES, La. - For the second time in as many seasons, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team saw its season end in a shootout with No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Lions scored on four of five attempts in the shootout Friday at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex to take a 4-3 verdict and advance to the championship game of the SLC Tournament.
With the season-ending tie, SFA finishes the season at 10-8-2, the sixth time in program history for the Ladyjacks to post double-digit wins. Southeastern (12-4-2) will meet the winner of Friday night's game between No. 5 Sam Houston State and No. 1 Texas State.
Southeastern's Candice Wallace got the clincher on the Lions' fifth attempt, slipping a shot low to the left of SFA goalkeeper Courtney Bauder. In the previous Southeastern attempt, Bauder had sprawled to her right to stop Nicole Brannigan's shot and keep SFA alive in the shootout.
Sophomore Edwina Forbes followed the stop with a high shot into the top right corner to tie the shootout at three goals apiece, but the Lions had the last word with Wallace's winner.
"We just ran out of time," SFA head coach George Van Linder said. "We didn't play the way we wanted the first half. We started to play more our way, we just ran out of time."
The game was nearly a dead heat through regulation, with Southeastern taking 11 shots to SFA's eight. The Ladyjacks had five shots on goal to three for the Lions through the end of the second half, and SFA added two more shots on goal in overtime, but couldn't find the net. The Lions finished with a slim 14-13 edge in total shots for the game.
Bauder posted five saves for the game.
"I'm so proud of our seniors," Van Linder said. "We made tremendous strides this year, and I am sure we will continue to benefit from their impact."
"You know, sometimes things just don't go your way, and we lost our composure in front of the net," SFA senior Megan Cash said. "We didn't play the way we usually can. I'm proud of my team. I'm most upset because it's over for me, but I'm not upset with my team at all."
The Ladyjacks saw their season end in identical fashion a year ago. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer in last season's Southland Tournament opener, the Lions took a 3-2 win in the shootout to knock SFA out of the tournament.
"I feel sorry for the SFA soccer fans, because they have been so supportive, and they deserve a trophy," Van Linder said. "The team will work hard to bring one to campus next year."
-- SFA --
