Wildcats Drop Pair of 3-1 Decisions

9/2/2017 12:19:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The rain clouds moved away and the sun came out Friday as the Louisiana College men's and women's soccer teams stepped on to the pitch and kicked off their 2017 season, with a home opener against Texas College. It would not be a day to remeber however for the Wildcats as both teams fell to Texas College by 3-1 finals, and both falling to 0-1 on the young season.

Women

The women's team did not get off to the best start suffering two goals with in the first five minutes allowing a well placed side-netting shot from Texas College's Nova Cordova in the third minute and after a foul in the 18 yard-box Cordova calmly converted her penalty kick just a few minutes later. The game settled down after that as the Lady Wildcat managed to retain some possession and move the ball around into the final third of TC but where unable to convert any chances that were taken.

The Cats had eight shots in the first half putting Perla Amezcua into action stopping three of them and keeping the Lady Cats out of the goal. The TC women where not finished in the first half as Melissa Ewing was able to place her shot past freshman keeper Lexi Tate to make the score 3-0 at the break.

The second half was a different story for the Lady Wildcats as they stepped up their attack and created more chances than Texas College, but a lack of possession in the final third kept the score one sided. The mid-field of the Lady Cats where not able to connect with their forwards allowing the Texas College counter attacks to put the LC defense on edge. In the 86th minute the Lady Cats where able to earn a corner and a looping cross from junior transfer Diana Soto set up sophomore McKenna Raines for a header giving the Lady Cats life at the end of the game, as the ball flew into the back of the net.

The effort would end up short though as Texas College prevented any further attempts, finishing the game with a 3-1 score line. TC finished with seven shots, six on frame, and the Lady Cats with 13 shots, five on frame, Tate had three saves. The Lady Cats have a few days rest before the University of Dallas travel to Wildcats Stadium for a Monday morning clash at 11 A.M.

Men

Following the women's game the men also took on Texas College and continued a similar story line. The men held a strong defense for the first 10 minutes stopping TC's attacks but a well placed ball over the top from Jerson Andrade allowed teammate Confidence Ogo to push past the back line of LC and slide his shot over the out stretched leg of senior goalkeeper Nathan Gautreaux to give Texas College the lead in the 13th minute.

The Wildcats would respond with their own goal as senior Todd Ryals launched a free kick from distance that was mishandle by Texas College goalkeeper Marshall Street to level the score at one in the 20th minute giving Ryals his first career goal and the Wildcats a boost of life. Minutes later freshman Gabriel Lopes headed one on frame only to be stopped by Marshall. The Wildcat's dominance was short lived as Texas College assaulted Gautreaux's goal resulting in wide shots and missed chances from corners. After exchanging possession and shots Texas College's Confidence Ogo was granted an open shot and landed it as the Wildcat's defense was caught out of position in the 42nd minute giving his team momentum and a 2-1 lead going into half.

To start the second half Wildcat's head coach Claudy St. Louis made some substitutions in an effort to change the tide into his favor. The changes were working for St. Louis and created more chances from the mid-field roles. In the 59th minute a poor challenge in the 18 yard-box from the Wildcat's defense allowed Texas College a penalty kick. Stepping up to take it was TC's Killian Pallone, his efforts would not pay off as Gautreaux's guessed correctly and dove right to deny the chance and keep the Wildcat's in the game.

The best attempt LC had to equalize the game came off sophomore Phay San's corner in the 70th minutes as he connected with freshman Ian Carter, but the duo was shut down by TC's Street as he saved the left footed shot. From there both sides had their fair stents of possession moving the ball up and down the field but in a break away attack from a lost LC possession TC's Killian Pallone, with space in front of him, noticed Gautreaux was off his line chipping him from distance giving the Steers the final 3-1 advantage.

The Wildcats attempted a counter in the dying minutes of the game but luck was not in their favor as their result was short finishing the game 3-1. TC finished with 19 shots, ten on frame, while the cats had eleven shots, five on frame, Gautreaux had seven saves. The Cats have a week until their next game against in city rival LSU-Alexandria to prepare and recap. The match is set to kick off Saturday at Wildcat Stadium at 7 P.M.

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