Stephen F. Austin
SMU
SMU Edges SFA In Scrimmage
8/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 11, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team mounted a late comeback bid in the final period of Tuesday's scrimmage against SMU, but wound up on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat in the 2009 exhibition opener.
After a scoreless first period, the Mustangs put up all three of their goals in the second frame. Both SFA scoring strikes were delivered in the third and final period. The preseason contest was played out in a non-traditional format with three 30-minute periods and unlimited substitutions for both teams.
"I thought the game gave us a good look at the areas we can work on," SFA head coach George Van Linder said. "At the same time, we can see that our foundation is good, especially considering where we're at, just four days into our training."
Sophomore forward Kim Kimmel got SFA on the board with her goal at the 28:40 mark. She scored unassisted on a high, arching shot from 24 yards out after SMU failed to clear the ball out of its box.
SFA was back on the attack just three minutes later, when freshman Laura Sadler muscled her way in tight to bring the Ladyjacks to within one goal of tying the game. Freshman Kylie Louw dribbled the ball down close to the end line to the left of the goal, then sent a pass back toward the center for Sadler. Sadler and an SMU defender converged on the ball with the Mustang goalkeeper coming out to defend. All three players went down in a heap, but not before Sadler nudged the ball across the line.
"We got to see our newcomers react in a live situation, really, for the first time today," Van Linder said. "Roughly fifty percent of the team is freshmen, and they were still able to make an impact out there. They've still got a ways to go, but I think they'll be able to complement our returners well."
The Ladyjacks will play their second and final exhibition on Saturday, when they host Houston Baptist. That game is set to begin at 5 p.m. from the SFA Soccer Complex. SFA will open the regular season on Aug. 23 with a road game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
-- SFA --
