Todd Ryals

Lady Wildcats Win 2-1 at McMurry

10/6/2017 6:43:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Rylas

Box Score

Thursday afternoon the Louisiana College women's soccer team was in Abilene, Texas to face the War Hawks of McMurry University. The War Hawks took the lead first but two quick responses later in the first half by sophomore Ashlynn Folse propelled the Cats to a 2-1 win. The win snapped a 26 match (0-22-4) winless streak dating back to the final game of the 2015 season.

The first goal came quickly after the start of the game for the War Hawks. Crossing the ball into the box, Cat's keeper Haley Clark came off her line and got her hand to the ball but the punch was misjudged and the ball went backwards but luckily for the Cats it hit the crossbar. The Cat's luck would end there, as the deflected ball would come back into play and Angelica Navarro was there to pass the ball into the back of the net in the fourth minute.

The War Hawks would control the next 20 minutes of the game with a present pressure on the Cat's defense mounting six shots, two being saved by Clark.

The Wildcats finally woke up and changed the flow of the game and pressured McMurry's goal. With a mid-field able to string some passes together and a front line pressure to gather turnovers, the Cats were in business.

The first sign came in the 25^th minute when Ashlynn Folse tried War Hawk keeper Jordan Gregory. The save was easy but Folse was not satisfied with the effort and would try again shorty after.

Floating on the left flank of McMurry, Folse was able to cross the ball but the Texas wind and awkward delivery gave the ball a sudden right shift, one Gregory was not ready for. The ball flew into the far back corner of the goal over the keeper's outreached hands, tying the game in the 31^st minute.

The War Haws tried to respond but the LC defense was ready to repeal and after Madi Starns cleared the ball past midfield, Folse was in, beating the two defenders to go one on one with Gregory. The collected Folse would send the ball passed the left side of the sprinting Gregory to make it 2-1 in the 34^th minute.

The Cats were in control and not letting off the gas. Energized and confident, the LC attack continued to press the McMurry backline and after a sloppy challenge around 30 yards from goal, LC looked to add a third goal. Stepping up to the ball, McKenna Raines, blasted the ball towards goal but her shot would be just too high and hit the crossbar of the football goal ending the Wildcat attack and the half with the lead 2-1.

The second half would be a challenge for the Lady Cats with a determined McMurry side poised to tie the game and take the lead. Equal to them, LC was ready to hold on to their lead, at one point changing to a five back system to be more defensive.

Five minutes in the Cats were on full alert. Gaining a corner, the War Hawks sent defenders forward to outnumber LC. In a span of two long minutes, McMurry produced five shots, Clark did not allow one to get past her with two consecutive saves seconds apart.

The game slowed down from there, both sides went back and forth trying shots and each keeper stopping any score change. Still playing defensive, LC had limited chances forward. Folse, Raines, and Jaime Trahan did shoot but came up short each time.

McMurry would be dangerous behind an abundance of corner kicks but the defense prevented the War Hawks, at times with great luck on their side, from getting back into the game. Clark had five crucial saves to help bolster the defense.

The game finished and when the final whistle blew the LC bench exploded having just won their first game of the season, drenching coach Samantha Etherington with water and cheers.

The Cats move to 1-7-2 on the season and 1-5 in American Southwestern Conference play. With a days rest, the Cats prepare for the Hardin Simmons Univ. Cowboys on Saturday in Abilene, kicking off at 1:30 p.m. For more on the Lady Wildcats follow them on FaceBook under Louisiana College Women's Soccer and Twitter at LC_WSOC.

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