Ladyjacks Tame Bobcats 2-1 in Home Opener

Sunday, September 3

Nacogdoches, Texas (Nacogdoches High School)

1:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

2-2

Texas State

1-3-1

TXST

SFA

Ladyjacks Tame Bobcats 2-1 in Home Opener

9/3/2017 5:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SFA moves to .500 on the season with the victory

By: Kevin Meyer | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team fought off a sluggish start to their 2017 home opener on Sunday afternoon, as a second-half penalty kick lifted them to a 2-1 victory over Texas State at Nacogdoches High School. The win is the second straight for the Ladyjacks, and comes on the heels of a 10-day break from match play after the cancellation of Friday's scheduled match with Texas Southern.

After 10 days away from a game situation, the Ladyjacks came out with a less than inspired performance in the opening minutes of the first half. That period didn't last long, however, as left back Carli Arthurs pushed forward on the attack in the 15^th minute, received a pass from midfielder Hanna Barker and scored on a scintillating strike from 16 yards out to give the Ladyjacks an early 1-0 lead.

"It was a unique environment for us today, and first off I want to thank Nacogdoches High school for working with us so diligently over the last couple of days and hosting us here", SFA head coach Wally Crittenden said."From a performance standpoint, I wasn't thrilled with how we came out in the first half. I thought we were sluggish, I thought we looked a little flat and wasn't quite settled. That being said, Carli Arthurs scored a great first half goal for us and we had some decent possession as well."

The goal was the first of the season for Arthurs, and a well-placed shot at that, but in the resulting glow of taking the lead, the 'Jacks allowed Texas State to penetrate deep into their defensive zone on the other end. Forward Kassi Hormuth fired off a high, arcing strike from 19 yards which beat Madeline Talbot for the equalizer, just over two minutes after Arthurs goal.

After yielding the Bobcats goal, the Ladyjacks went back on the offensive, looking to get another go-ahead goal, and would get a good crack at it in the 22^nd minute, after earning a free kick just 22 yards out from the Texas State goal. Barker's attempt on goal was well struck but sailed high over the cross bar.

With just two minutes remaining in the first half, a beautiful service was played into the Texas State box, where Katie Jennings made a penetrating run and got off a good shot at the goal, which was saved by the Bobcats keeper to keep the score tied at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.

"We addressed a couple things at halftime, primarily mentality, intensity and speed of play, and I thought it had an immediate effect in the second half as we were much better in possession, attacking and our defensive shape in the second half", Crittenden explained. "You never want to have a lackluster type half, but when you do it's important you learn from them and improve, and today we did."

In the second half, the Ladyjacks came out renewed and refocused in their attack, although their go-ahead goal in the 53^rd minute would not be in the run of play. After receiving a pass just inside the Bobcats 18-yard box, forward Madison Hall was sandwiched between two Bobcat defenders and taken down to the ground. A penalty kick was summarily awarded to the 'Jacks, and Barker chosen as the PK taker. The senior midfielder calmly stepped up, waited for the whistle and slotted the ball past the diving goalkeeper to give the Ladyjacks the go-ahead strike they needed.

In the 60^th minute and with their narrow lead intact, the 'Jacks continued to build scoring opportunities with their possession. In the 60^th minute, Arthurs played in an excellent ball to Breanna Moore in the box, whose header bounced off the post. The ball then deflected back towards Moore, allowing her to get a second shot at goal from eight yards out, which was blocked by a Bobcat defender.

"We made some really good plays on offense tonight, and two of our right backs in Katie Jennings, who had a great shot saved and could've lead to a follow up goal and Chloe Fowler, who got in behind the defense and hit one over. Now typically those are goals that they finish, and then we get Breezy (Moore) got on the end of a tremendous delivery and her flick header hit the post, so I'm very pleased with the variety in attacking chances we created, and I thought we were much better at that in the second half."

Texas State would create two more scoring chances in the 68^th and 84^th minutes of play, but SFA would not yield a goal in either, and came away with their second win in as many games, and the first of their home schedule.

Barker finished with a goal and an assist for the second game in a row, while Arthurs netted her first career goal in the win. Allyson Smith (1-1) earned the win in net, taking over for Talbot in the second half of play and making one save in the period. Overall, the Ladyjacks outshot the Bobcats 11-5 in the contest and 5-2 in shots on goal.

Stephen F. Austin continues the 2017 season with a road trip to New Mexico State on Friday, before facing UTEP in a road tilt on Sunday afternoon.

-SFA-