Bearkats Soccer Shuts Out Cowgirls 2-0
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
A pair of goals on corner kicks powered Sam Houston to a 2-0 shutout of McNeese State in the Bearkats’ final home women’s soccer match of the 2012 season Sunday at Pritchett Field.
The victory upped the Bearkats’ season record to 7-9-1 and clinched SHSU a berth in the Southland Conference post-season tournament with a 4-2-1 league mark.
The tournament will be held in weeks in Lake Charles, La.
Katie Ferrara touched in the first goal at the 8:10 mark after Tricia Mallory and Ashley Fluty passed the ball into Ferrara just off the goal line after a corner kick by Shelby McDaniel.
Just over five minutes later, at the 13:56 mark, McDaniel found Kayla Anderson open in front of the goal and the senior headed the ball in for another score.
“Going undefeated , 4-0, at home at Pritchett Field was a big goal for us this fall and it’s great to see us accomplish that,” SHSU head coach Tom Brown said.
“We continued to improve offensively each match and we’re looking forward to finishing strong.”
Goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton picked up her sixth shutout of the year.
The Bearkat back line held the Cowgirls without a shot in the first half.
McNeese got off three shots in the second 45 minutes with two going wide and Hambleton saving one.
Three of Sam Houston’s four victories on the new turf at Pritchett Field in Southland action have been shutouts.
Sam Houston had 17 shots for the game with several more scoring opportunities including a pair of shots that hit the post.
The Bearkats will complete Southland Conference action next Friday at Lamar.
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.