Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern State
SFA WINS Conference Opener against Northwestern State, 1-0
9/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NATCHITOCHES, La. – It was a humid opener for Southland Conference play. Stephen F. Austin traveled east for a big rivalry game against Northwestern State on Friday evening. This match was the first game Northwestern has play on their actual home field due to weather conditions, and today Mother Nature still would not give them a break as the rain started pouring down late in the first half.
“What a game in the road,” said Head Coach Wally Crittenden. “Two good teams competing with great intensity. Throw in the heavy rain and rivalry implications and you have a tremendous setting for a match.
Sophomore Breanna Moore would have her first goal of the season late in the second half, and the Ladyjacks would total 20 shots on the night with eight of them on goal. Senior Hailey Hunt and Senior Amanda Doyle would lead the Ladyjacks with four shots each. Followed by Moore, who had three shots on the night.
SFA opened the gates with four shots in the first 16 minutes, led by Hunt and junior Hanna Barker. Rain would make things slippery and hard to see at the 41 minute mark. Defense would keep numbers low, therefore both the Ladyjacks and the Demons would have only six shots each in the first half.
After the intermission, the Ladyjacks came out hard, quickly earning their third corner of the game. SFA tried at the goal twice before the Demons cleared it. The Ladyjacks swiftly added seven shots in the first twenty minutes of the second half. Shots are wide and high, but SFA just couldn’t find the back of the net yet. The tide would be changed as Moore collected a deflection off the goalie and slides the ball straight through at the 69:38 minute mark. Possession would be in the Ladyjacks favor as they played at their pace, keeping the ball on the NSU half of the pitch.
Time would expire in Natchitoches with the Ladyjacks earning their second shutout of the year and first win in conference play. Redshirt junior Lillie Ehlert stayed in the goal for all 90 minutes and had four saves from ten shots by the Demon offense.
“I am proud of how our kids grinded in the challenging conditions and to get another shutout is great,” finished Crittenden. “Then, Breezy scored a goal symbolic of the match in a great hustle play that ended with a strong sliding finish. We will enjoy this tonight and then keep moving forward as we get ready for two great tests next weekend.”
Stephen F. Austin will be back in action next weekend on a long road to Corpus Christi and then onto Houston. The Ladyjacks will first face Texas A&M- Corpus Christi on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The trip then continues to take on Houston Baptist on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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