Resilient Lumberjacks Battle to a Draw in Houston, 4-4

Thursday, August 26

Houston, Texas

7:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Houston

2-0-1, 0-0-0

SFA

Houston

Resilient Lumberjacks Battle to a Draw in Houston, 4-4

8/27/2021 9:17:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Lumberjack soccer team trailed three times in Thursday night's road tilt against the University of Houston, and yet each time they rose to the occasion with equalizing goals before finding a go-ahead goal of their own in the 86th minute. A late equalizer by the Cougars spoiled the party, however, as the game would go to overtime before ending in a 4-4 draw.

For the Lumberjacks (0-2-1), the result was bittersweet, as the visiting side showed a brilliant resiliency to fight back from a deficit time and time again.

After Houston opened the game's scoring in the 22nd minute of play, it took the 'Jacks less than two minutes to equalize, as Jayme Bailey netted her first career goal for the Purple and White. That 1-1 margin would carry into the halftime intermission. As the game resumed in the second half, a lighting delay that spanned 90 minutes took place, setting the scene for a late finish to the contest.

Once play resumed, Houston took a quick 2-1 lead with a goal in the 54th minute of play, only to watch the Lumberjacks answer quickly with a goal off the foot of Teia Haynes in the 55th minute. An own goal off an SFA defender in the 68th minute gave UH a 3-2 lead that lasted until the 84th minute, when a handball in the box by the Houston defense led to a penalty kick, which senior Mattie Musser slotted away to knot things up at 3-3. Lily Hargrove's brilliant goal in the 86th minute put the 'Jacks in position to secure their first win of the campaign, but Houston snuck in a late equalizer in the game's 89th minute to send the game into overtime. Despite outshooting the hosts 3-1 across the two 10-minute OT periods, the 'Jacks weren't able to continue their scoring barrage and find a golden goal in either stanza.

Four different Lumberjacks scored in the contest, marking the first time that happened for SFA since 2019, when four 'Jacks found the back of the net versus Southern on 8/30. SFA is back in action on Sunday in Nacogdoches, squaring off against Texas State at 1:00 p.m at SFA Soccer Field.