Stephen F. Austin
Incarnate Word
SFA Extends Shutout Streak With 2-0 Win at UIW
10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SFA 2, Incarnate Word 0
Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium • San Antonio, Texas
Records: SFA (8-6-2, 7-0-2 SLC); UIW (3-12-2, 1-6-2 SLC)
Up Next: at Abilene Christian (7-7-2, 6-1-1 SLC) • Tuesday, Oct. 27 • 3:00 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team wasted little time getting on the scoreboard and held on for a 2-0 victory over Incarnate Word on a soggy Sunday morning at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. The Ladyjacks improve their first place Southland Conference record to 7-0-2 with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Sophomore forward Hanna Barker gave SFA an early 1-0 cushion with a goal just 1:40 into the game. Junior midfielder Amanda Doyle got through the UIW back line and sent a ball across the goal to Barker, who was able to redirect it into the net. The speedy tally marked the third goal of the season for Barker with the assist being Doyle’s third of 2015 as well.
Freshman forward Breanna Moore provided some breathing room for the Ladyjacks in the 55th minute, recording her third goal in as many games to put SFA on top 2-0. After collecting a loose ball in the box, Moore fired a shot that whizzed past the UIW keeper inside the left post.
SFA’s stingy defense was able to handle things from there, posting the third straight team shutout and sixth clean sheet overall for the year. The Ladyjacks haven’t conceded a goal in over 290 minutes spanning their last four games. It is the longest scoreless streak forced this season.
“Today was another solid performance by the entire group,” said head coach Wally Crittenden. “We showed great maturity and discipline in dealing with game time changes, crazy weather, turf and a 30 mph wind. Then we played a very spirited Incarnate Word team on their Senior Day. All in all, I thought we managed the critical factors that determine most outcomes very well and at the same time, we let go of the distractions.”
Goalkeepers Lillie Ehlert and Allyson Smith once again split time between the posts for SFA. Ehlert hauled in three saves in the first half while Smith posted one save in the second. Along with the solid goalkeeping, defenders Brooke Dunnigan, Julianna Echavarry, Chantal Curry, Kelly Ann Craig and Bailey Bosley each contributed to the team shutout.
Offensively, the Ladyjacks used a balanced attack to put pressure on the Cardinals. A total of 11 players registered a shot over 90 minutes with Barker and junior forward Jasmine White leading the way with two shots apiece. Barker, Moore, White and sophomore forward Michaela Mencacci tested the UIW keeper with shots on goal.
SFA ended the morning with a 13-9 shot advantage, putting one more on frame than UIW (5-4). The most lopsided stat of the day was SFA’s 12-0 surplus in corner kick opportunities.
Next up, the Ladyjacks will travel to play Abilene Christian on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. in what is a rescheduled date from last Friday.
“We will now turn our attention to preparing for ACU on Tuesday in what will be a fantastic match,” Crittenden said. “This group has earned the right to play in big games and no doubt they will be excited for the occasion.”
-SFA-
