Cowgirls Use Big Second Half to Beat Cats

10/8/2017 4:47:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Rylas

Box Score

Saturday afternoon the Louisiana College women's soccer team faced off against the undefeated Cowgirls of Hardin-Simmons Univ. on the road in Abilene, TX. The game would be within reach in the first half but an explosive second half packed with seven goals kept the Cowboys' unblemished record intact.

From the start, the Cowgirls were buzzing around and looking for danger. The Cats were right along side defensively, matching up and equalizing to the HSU attack, keeping them at bay. The crafty attack would eventually find a weakness in the LC defense.

Following many teams before, the flanks were open for crosses and wide beginnings of play and so they continued the trend and sent the ball wide. Wingers or outside backs steamed down the sideline to cross the ball into the box for waiting attackers.

After continued assault on LC 'keeper Haley Clark and the defense, the Cowgirls found pay dirt. Off a passage of play down the right side of LC, Tori Waters sent in a low driven ball to the middle of the six-yard box and in position was Olivia Hartman to give HSU the lead in the 15^th minute. Hartman beat a Cat defender to the ball and tucked it past Clark with a one-time finish into the middle of the goal.

The Cat defense would not get a break as a dominant Cowgirl mid-field prevented any long-term LC possession, staying in their half for most of the game. Clark managed to stop four of the 13 first half shots by the Cowgirls.

Returning to stretching the field, the Cowboys sent any ball into the mix hoping for a mistake. In the 22^nd minute they were awarded with one. A swirling cross was played on top of the six yard box, stepping to the ball a Cat initially cleared the it away but only as far as a Cowgirl yards from her and hitting the ball back in, a swarm of players tried to get to the ball. The ball eventually found its way away from the group and to Kenne Kessler. Firing it in the corner of the open goal for the second goal of the game and her 23^rd of the season.

The Cats would finally have an attack in the dying minutes of the first 45.

Trying long balls forward, the backline of HSU would stop them for getting past, but waiting Cat players would get in front of the ball and shoot from distance. Bethel Chibesa hit one just outside the 18 but Caitlin Christiansen stop the head high effort but mishandled the ball and sent it back into the mix and after clearing the ball back to Caitlyn Scheibal, her shot was also denied.

Kessler would again add to her tally in the second half after a minute into the re-start. Starting with the ball, the Cowboys pushed pasted the dazed Cat defense and fired a close range shot to the left side of Clark beating her to the post. The goal gave her 24 on the season and HSU a cushion.

The remaining 44 minutes would see six more goals from the Cowboys and constant LC defending. In the 51^st, Josey Meyer would find Kristen Parrish for her seventh goal of the season. In the 58^th, Hartman scored her second of the game, fourth on the season. In the 67^th Meyer found Parrish for her second goal of the game, eighth of the season. In the 83^rd minute, Sofia Quijiano assisted Hadley Schwierking for her first goal of the season. In the 86^th, Schwierking scored her second behind a Rachel Bean assist. And in the 90^th minute, Bean finished the game with one of her own making it five for the season.

Not every shot from the Cowboys where goals, Clark had six saves in the second half while fellow Cat keeper, Lexi Tate had three. Once the game finished both sides showed respect for each other and the love of the game with a circle prayer at the center circle.

The Cats fall to 1-8-2 on the season and 1-6 in American Southwestern Conference play. The Ladies have a short turn around hosting Centenary College Tuesday night at Wildcat Stadium for a non-conference match. The fixture kicks off at 6:30 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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