Friday, November 3
Corpus Christi, Texas
4:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
13-7
0
vs
0
#6 Abilene Christian University
9-11
1
2
OT 4
OT 5
OT 6
F
Abilene Christian
0
0
0
0
0
0
SFA
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ladyjacks Advance to Tournament Title Game With Shootout Victory Over Abilene Christian
11/3/2017 8:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SFA advances to fourth SLC title game in five seasons with 4-2 shootout victory
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In a titanic struggle between two teams so evenly matched, it was a penalty kick shootout after 110 minutes of gameplay that ultimately decided the match between second-seeded Stephen F. Austin and six seed Abilene Christian on Friday. After the teams battled to a draw in the run of play, the Ladyjacks prevailed in the shootout 4-2 to advance on to their fourth Southland Tournament final in the past five years.
ACU would shoot first in the shootout, converting on their first attempt. After SFA tied it with a make of its own, ACU's shooter would miss wide, and SFA would take a 2-1 lead with a make by its second shooter. Both teams scored with the third shooter, and SFA held a 3-2 lead as ACU's fourth shooter stepped up to the spot. The shot was a good one, however SFA goalkeeper Allyson Smith played the attempt perfectly, blocking the shot to give SFA a huge advantage in the shootout. Up stepped Hanna Barker with an opportunity to decide the match, and she calmly buried her shot to win the shootout for SFA, before rushing to her teammates in exultation.
SFA (12-7-1) will now face the winner of the No. 4 Central Arkansas/No.1 Lamar game winner in the title game on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
"It was a great game, and it always is whenever we play Abilene, because that's quickly become a soccer rivalry", said SFA head coach Wally Crittenden. "I thought they had the better run of play certainly in the first half, and that wind was pretty significant, as we found out. We challenged our kids at halftime and I'm pleased with how they responded, the game leveled out throughout the second half and the overtime periods.
For the second time in three weeks, the Ladyjacks and Wildcats would square off on the pitch, and Friday's contest was every bit the tight rematch that one would expect, as the Ladyjacks looked to avenge a 2-0 defeat suffered at the hands of the Wildcats in Abilene in the prior matchup.
In the first half, however, the Wildcats would once again rack up a telling advantage in shots against the 'Jacks, one that would carry throughout the game as ACU outshot the 'Jacks 28-9 in the contest. SFA would very nearly score on its first shot of the contest, as Breanna Moore's headed attempt was denied by a swift reaction from ACU's keeper, Erin Smith, who tallied six saves in the contest. That would the SFA's only shot of the first half, compared to 15 for ACU, but still the score held level at the halftime break.
In the second half, SFA's halftime adjustments paid off, as the Ladyjacks outshot ACU 7-5 and had numerous dangerous chances at goal. In the 48th minute, a corner kick by Hanna Barker very nearly tucked into the Wildcat goal with some help from the wind, but just narrowly missed its mark. Two minutes later, a blocked shot from Madison Hall landed at the feet of senior Chloe Fowler, whose attempt from eight yards out sailed high over the crossbar. In the 64th minute, a free kick from 22 yards out by Hall was well struck but saved by ACU's Smith, and her shot three minutes later from 27 was similarly denied by Smith.
With time winding down in the second half, the Wildcats very nearly scored in the 84th minute when, after a 'Jacks turnover near the edge of the goal box, ACU forward Dylan Owens got the ball and a good angle at goal. At the last second, and with Owens possibly about to beat a charging Allyson Smith, left back Carli Arthurs slid in to block the shot and make the save.
With the game undecided in regulation, it would head to the first overtime period, where ACU kept the pressure on in outshooting SFA 3-0. A corner kick with less than a minute left for SFA nearly bore fruit, but ACU's Smith broke up the play to send the game on to a second overtime period.
In the second overtime, SFA's Allyson Smith made several crucial stops, including a save in the 108th minute of play in which she tipped a header form point blank range up over the crossbar to stave off defeat. With neither team scoring in the second OT period, the game would head to the penalty kick shootout to decide which team would advance.
"Both teams had good chances to score during the game, and we got to the shootout situation where we felt very organized and composed, as we've been training for that scenario", Crittenden explained. "I was pleased with our execution during the shootout, and as we prepare for Sunday I'm really excited to get to watch our kids play another game. We'll get good recovery work in, and work to come out with better energy and better soccer on Sunday, because if there's one thing our kids do well it's respond to challenges and grow and improve."
Smith was superb in the contest from start to finish, playing all 110 minutes and parrying repeated attempts by ACU in recording the clean sheet. She made nine saves overall, with four coming in the second half and three more in the second overtime.
"Allyson has really grown as she has gone through the year, she has matured into the position both mentally and physically, and she came up big on a couple of occasions there down the stretch", said Crittenden. "She rose to the equation, and to be fair that's the level she's consistently been playing at all season, which is that of one of the top -- if not the top -- goalkeepers in the conference, and she showed that tonight."
Max Hall paced the Ladyjacks with three shots in the contest, while six other Ladyjacks each took one shot.
-SFA-
ACU would shoot first in the shootout, converting on their first attempt. After SFA tied it with a make of its own, ACU's shooter would miss wide, and SFA would take a 2-1 lead with a make by its second shooter. Both teams scored with the third shooter, and SFA held a 3-2 lead as ACU's fourth shooter stepped up to the spot. The shot was a good one, however SFA goalkeeper Allyson Smith played the attempt perfectly, blocking the shot to give SFA a huge advantage in the shootout. Up stepped Hanna Barker with an opportunity to decide the match, and she calmly buried her shot to win the shootout for SFA, before rushing to her teammates in exultation.
SFA (12-7-1) will now face the winner of the No. 4 Central Arkansas/No.1 Lamar game winner in the title game on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
"It was a great game, and it always is whenever we play Abilene, because that's quickly become a soccer rivalry", said SFA head coach Wally Crittenden. "I thought they had the better run of play certainly in the first half, and that wind was pretty significant, as we found out. We challenged our kids at halftime and I'm pleased with how they responded, the game leveled out throughout the second half and the overtime periods.
For the second time in three weeks, the Ladyjacks and Wildcats would square off on the pitch, and Friday's contest was every bit the tight rematch that one would expect, as the Ladyjacks looked to avenge a 2-0 defeat suffered at the hands of the Wildcats in Abilene in the prior matchup.
In the first half, however, the Wildcats would once again rack up a telling advantage in shots against the 'Jacks, one that would carry throughout the game as ACU outshot the 'Jacks 28-9 in the contest. SFA would very nearly score on its first shot of the contest, as Breanna Moore's headed attempt was denied by a swift reaction from ACU's keeper, Erin Smith, who tallied six saves in the contest. That would the SFA's only shot of the first half, compared to 15 for ACU, but still the score held level at the halftime break.
In the second half, SFA's halftime adjustments paid off, as the Ladyjacks outshot ACU 7-5 and had numerous dangerous chances at goal. In the 48th minute, a corner kick by Hanna Barker very nearly tucked into the Wildcat goal with some help from the wind, but just narrowly missed its mark. Two minutes later, a blocked shot from Madison Hall landed at the feet of senior Chloe Fowler, whose attempt from eight yards out sailed high over the crossbar. In the 64th minute, a free kick from 22 yards out by Hall was well struck but saved by ACU's Smith, and her shot three minutes later from 27 was similarly denied by Smith.
With time winding down in the second half, the Wildcats very nearly scored in the 84th minute when, after a 'Jacks turnover near the edge of the goal box, ACU forward Dylan Owens got the ball and a good angle at goal. At the last second, and with Owens possibly about to beat a charging Allyson Smith, left back Carli Arthurs slid in to block the shot and make the save.
With the game undecided in regulation, it would head to the first overtime period, where ACU kept the pressure on in outshooting SFA 3-0. A corner kick with less than a minute left for SFA nearly bore fruit, but ACU's Smith broke up the play to send the game on to a second overtime period.
In the second overtime, SFA's Allyson Smith made several crucial stops, including a save in the 108th minute of play in which she tipped a header form point blank range up over the crossbar to stave off defeat. With neither team scoring in the second OT period, the game would head to the penalty kick shootout to decide which team would advance.
"Both teams had good chances to score during the game, and we got to the shootout situation where we felt very organized and composed, as we've been training for that scenario", Crittenden explained. "I was pleased with our execution during the shootout, and as we prepare for Sunday I'm really excited to get to watch our kids play another game. We'll get good recovery work in, and work to come out with better energy and better soccer on Sunday, because if there's one thing our kids do well it's respond to challenges and grow and improve."
Smith was superb in the contest from start to finish, playing all 110 minutes and parrying repeated attempts by ACU in recording the clean sheet. She made nine saves overall, with four coming in the second half and three more in the second overtime.
"Allyson has really grown as she has gone through the year, she has matured into the position both mentally and physically, and she came up big on a couple of occasions there down the stretch", said Crittenden. "She rose to the equation, and to be fair that's the level she's consistently been playing at all season, which is that of one of the top -- if not the top -- goalkeepers in the conference, and she showed that tonight."
Max Hall paced the Ladyjacks with three shots in the contest, while six other Ladyjacks each took one shot.
-SFA-
Team Stats
ACU
SFA
Goals
0
0
Shots
28
9
Shots on Goal
14
7
Saves
7
14
Corners
7
8
Fouls
7
11
Scoring Plays
Mulrooney, Michelle
120:00
Hall, Lauren
120:00
Arthurs, Carli
120:00
Arteaga, Christina
120:00
Termini, Katelyn
120:00
Barker, Hanna
120:00
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer9.11.23 | Soccer Presser Week Three Press Conference x Tony Minatta
Thursday, September 14
8.28.23 | Soccer Week One Presser - Tony Minatta
Monday, August 28
8.20.23 | Highlights x SFA Soccer Vs. Tulane
Sunday, August 20
10.23.22 Goal Lily Hargrove
Sunday, October 23
