Bearkats Clawed Their Way Over Bears 2-1

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Informatio

Katie Ferrara and Kirby Zak each scored, then Sam Houston held off a determined charge by the top scoring offense in the Southland Conference as they defeated Central Arkansas 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Pritchett Field.

UCA had scored 38 goals in their first 10 games this season, but the Bears were held scoreless for 84 minutes by SHSU goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton and her Bearkat backline.

 Ferrara scored at the 12:53 mark, the earliest goal by Sam Houston this season, for a quick 1-0 lead.

 She intercepted an attempt by UCA goalkeeper Kelsey Gouchnauer to roll a ball out to one of her defenders and promptly put a shot from 19 yards out in the back of the net.

 Zak fired in what turned out to be the match winning goal on a cornerkick from the left side to the far post.

Shelby McDaniel’s corner found Lindsey Posner who made a short pass to Zak.

The senior forward fired in her second goal of the weekend at the 58:33 mark.

UCA’s goal also came on a cornerkick as Elizabeth Bradley’s ball found Kristin Pollard at the far post and scored with six minutes to play.

Central Arkansas took 14 shots with Hambleton saving four.

Sam Houston now stands 2-0 in Southland Conference play and is 5-7 for the year. Central Arkansas drops to 8-2-1 for the season and 0-1-1 in league action.

“It’s huge to start conference play 2-0,” SHSU head coach Tom Brown said. “Our goal is to win all our home games and then try and pick up as many as we can on the road. Our tough non-conference schedule has really helped us. We played No. 16 Rutgers and tough opponents on the road like Air Force and UTEP. It really has made us play better and harder and it paid off this weekend.”

Sam Houston faces a long road swing next weekend, playing at Southeastern Louisiana, then heading to Oral Roberts.