Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls
SFA Thumps Nicholls on Senior Night, 4-0
10/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SFA 4, Nicholls 0
SFA Soccer Field • Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (6-6-2, 5-0-2 SLC); Nicholls (3-9-1, 1-6-0 SLC)
Up Next: vs. Southeastern Louisiana (9-3-2, 4-2-1 SLC) • Sunday, Oct. 18 • 1:00 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – On a special Friday night at SFA Soccer Field, the Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team struck for a season-high four goals and earned another clean sheet in a 4-0 rout of Nicholls State. The first place Ladyjacks improve to 6-6-2 overall and 5-0-2 in the Southland Conference with the result.
Emotions were flying high throughout the evening with SFA’s four seniors – Rachel Owens, Chantal Curry, Ashton Norman and Amanda Fox – being recognized prior to the match for Senior Night. The whole team played inspired soccer for their veteran leaders in what was the best all-around performance for the ‘Jacks this season.
Madison Hall, Hanna Barker, Amanda Doyle and Breanna Moore each found the back of the net for the Ladyjacks. Leading 1-0 at halftime thanks to Hall’s goal, SFA turned on the gas in the 58th minute, getting three goals in a span of 13 minutes to put the game away.
Hall relieved some pressure late in the opening half with a brilliant finish from the top of the 18 in the 44th minute. Owens connected with junior forward Jasmine White before White found Hall waiting unmarked in the center of the field. She collected a pass and drilled a shot into the upper right corner to give SFA the 1-0 lead.
Both Owens and White were credited with assists on the play. The goal was Hall’s second of the season.
After controlling the first 10 minutes of the second period, Barker broke free for the Ladyjacks’ second goal. Moore took possession of the ball near midfield and streaked down the middle before playing a perfect through ball to Barker. Barker took full advantage of the one-on-one situation, making good on her second goal of the year.
In the 69th minute, it was Doyle’s turn to join in on the scoring frenzy. She needed just one touch to settle a cross off the foot of Kelly Ann Craig from the right wing, and then bury her sixth goal of the year inside the right post. With the goal, Doyle regains her spot as points and goals leader in the SLC.
While Friday night was a meaningful tribute to the senior class, Moore gave the SFA fans something to be excited about for three more years just one minute after Doyle’s goal. The freshman got into great position at the back post and earned her first collegiate goal by putting away a cross from Barker.
The Ladyjacks finished the night with a 17-7 shot disparity over the Colonels, including an 8-1 advantage in shots on frame. SFA also applied pressure on set pieces and held a 6-0 margin on corners at the final whistle.
In her first career start for the ‘Jacks, freshman Allyson Smith wasn’t tested with a shot on goal in the first half but played well in all facets of the game. She earned the victory to improve to 1-1-0 on the year. Redshirt sophomore Lillie Ehlert relieved Smith of her duties for the second half and made one save in the closing minutes to preserve the team shutout – SFA’s fourth of 2015.
With the victory, SFA improves to 24-1-2 all-time against Nicholls and extends its winning streak over the SLC foe to 12 straight dating back to 2005. The Ladyjacks also extend their unbeaten streak in conference play to 29 games with the win.
The Ladyjacks will face a tough Southeastern Louisiana side on Sunday afternoon in what will be the final home game of the year. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at SFA Soccer Field.
-SFA-
