Stephen F. Austin
Houston Baptist
Early Goal Disrupts SFA Win Streak in SLC Finals
11/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2016
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The clouds would come in and out here at the Jack Dugan Soccer Stadium for the final match of the Southland Conference Championship. The intensity was high the entire game, keeping both teams on their toes. However, the Stephen F. Austin soccer team saw its 2016 season come to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Ladyjacks dropped a hard fought game to Houston Baptist.
The Ladyjacks earned the second seed in the tournament after a tremendous year. The team ends the season with a 13-5-0 overall record and 9-2-0 record in conference play.
"A great tournament and a tremendous host facility. The staff at TAMU-Corpus Christi and with the Southland Conference did a tremendous job. Houston Baptist were good today and were able to get an early set piece on us and hold off one of our better attacking days," said Head Coach Wally Crittenden. "If you had told me before the game we would take 17 shots and would not score a couple, I wouldn't have believed you knowing the offensive efficiency of our team. But, that is the game we play and I am very proud of this team and how they fought today and all season long. I wish the best of luck to HBU as they represent us in the NCAAs."
Five Ladyjacks would take two shots apiece at the net. Senior Kelly Ann Craig and senior Hailey Hunt would led SFA with two shots and one of those a goal each. Freshman Katie Jennings would be the game changer of the bench adding a shot on goal for her tally.
SFA put on the pressure first with a drive from senior Amanda Doyle, however the drive would be cut short. The Huskies would then return the favor winning a corner kick in 3rd minute. They would convert the corner into a header goal for the earlier 1-0 lead. SFA would win a corner kick in the 11th minute for a header shot by sophomore Bailey Bosley forcing the Huskies goalie to make her first save of the afternoon. Time would wind to the 32nd minute when SFA would get another good look at goal. Another junior Hanna Barker corner would be turned in a shot from junior Chloe Fowler, and it would go high. A minute later, Barker would drive up the left flank and connect to Doyle in the box. Doyle's header shot would go wide right. HBU would put the pressure back on in the 38th minute with a scramble in the net to displace senior goalkeeper Lillie Ehlert, but the SFA defense would prevail out of the situation.
After the intermission, both teams would keep up the intensity splitting a pair of corner kicks. The Ladyjacks would get a great look from Lauren Hall in the 57th minute, and this one would also go high. Down in the 65th minute mark, Brooke Dunnigan saved the ball to keep it on the offense. She would send it to Barker for the cross, but the play would be called short by an offsides call. Senior Meghan Corder would try to tie it up with a long shot in the 72nd minute, but the attempt would go wide. The Ladyjacks would take two more shots on goal before the clock expires.
Stephen F. Austin would end the game outshooting the Huskies 17-10. The Ladyjacks would create 10 corner kick opportunities compared to the Huskies three corners. Ehlert would have two saves on the afternoon.
Stephen F. Austin would close the season with several Southland All-Tournament team selections. Barker would be selected for the midfield position, Dunnigan for defensive, sophomore Breanna Moore for forward, and Ehlert as goalkeeper.
-SFA-
