Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Ladyjacks Roll Past Cardinals
10/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2010
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Five days after being forced to settle for a tie at Central Arkansas, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks left no doubts in their home conference opener. SFA got an early goal from Laura Sadler, then put in two insurance scores to take a 3-1 win over Lamar Friday night.
The Ladyjacks held Lamar to just seven shots as SFA extended its unbeaten streak to eight straight games. Jordan King and Janae Lee joined Sadler with a goal apiece, nullifying a Lamar goal on a set piece in the 80th minute.
The Ladyjacks move to 9-3-1 overall with a 2-0-1 record in league play. The Cardinals suffered their first league defeat of the year, falling to 4-7-1 overall and 2-1-0 in conference play. The two-goal verdict comes following a 1-1 draw last Sunday that saw SFA outshoot Central Arkansas, 20-2.
"It was such a relief," head coach Tony Amato said of the two second-half goals Friday night. "We definitely lost some sleep this week over not being able to get the second goal [at Central Arkansas]. We emphasized at halftime today we have to put this team away. We have to get the second goal. We have to get the third goal. Because, as we saw, it takes one ball forward, one free kick for the other team to score, and the girl put it in the top corner. There wasn't much we could have done there defensively, so it was crucial to get the second and third goal. I was really proud of how the girls stepped up and got those goals."
Sadler opened the scoring for SFA in the 35th minute when she took a pass from Kylie Louw, turned away from her defender and fired a high shot to the far post from just outside the six-yard box. The strike gave Sadler four consecutive games with a goal and marked her fifth score of the season, moving her into a tie with three other players for the team lead.
"We've moved her around a little bit," Amato said of Sadler's recent scoring outburst. "She really did a good job for us early in the year in a little bit different role. Once we talked to her about getting forward and attacking, it's definitely opened up a new thing for us."
SFA limited Lamar to just three shots in the first period and went to halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
King widened the margin at the 55-minute mark when she broke the tie for the team lead with her sixth goal of the year. It came on a direct kick from the top of the 18-yard box after Sadler was fouled hard from behind on an attack, drawing a yellow card for the offending Cardinal player.
With senior forward Kim Kimmel -- another player who was part of the tie for the team scoring lead entering Friday's game -- sitting out following an ejection at Central Arkansas, King was moved up to the outside-mid position from her usual spot in the Ladyjack back line. She responded to the change well, pressuring Lamar with several runs down the right sideline to open up goal opportunities.
"Jordan's just a good player," Amato said. "You can play her anywhere on the field and she's going to be effective for you. With Kimmel being out, we felt like we needed to have Jordan join the attack a little bit more than she can at right back. We were able to move her forward and it definitely paid off."
Lee gave SFA the insurance goal in the 75th minute. The Ladyjacks stole a pass near midfield and Melissa Gaudet caught Lamar in transition, as her pass led Lee into open territory behind the Cardinal back line. Lee beat goalkeeper Jennifer Gibbs to the ball and rolled in a shot from 12 yards out. The goal was Lee's second of the season.
The Cardinals avoided the shutout with a goal by Grace Bowman in the 80th minute. She connected with a high, bending shot on a direct kick from 25 yards.
SFA outshot the Cardinals, 16-7, overall, with a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. With King playing in the midfield, the Ladyjacks added Kelsey Allen to their usual back line of Kelli Barnes, Edwina Forbes and Jordyn Young. It was Allen's fourth starting appearance of the year, and she played the full 90 minutes, matching her season-high.
"Yesterday at training we definitely called a few people out and said, `Listen, we need you guys to step up,'" Amato said. "It's a long season. It comes fast and furious, though, and people get injured, and we needed some people to step up. Kelsey Allen came in ... and did a great job at right back."
Ladyjack goalkeeper Courtney Bauder (8-3-1) recorded three saves in the game.
The Ladyjacks will return to action Sunday afternoon when they host McNeese State. The game against the Cowgirls is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
-- SFA --
