Women's Soccer Sinks Texas Wesleyan
Shreveport, Louisiana- The Women's Soccer team opened up the flood gates today to improve their season to 4-0-1 overall. The 5-1 win over the Texas Wesleyan Rams keeps the Pilots hopes high as they get closer and closer to conference play.
How It Happened
The start of the match displayed the passion and fire that both teams had. Though the Pilots would be the first to see set pieces close to the goal, it would be the Rams that applied pressure and got the first shot of the game. The Pilots would answer with a shot of their own from Mira Erixon, but both goalkeepers, Carlota Alcalde and Alex Ortiz, would start to be tested. Tameir Grosvenor would create the first goal of the game for the Rams in the 20th minute of the match. With the first goal, everything began to look panicked. Where the first twenty minutes was a battle of possession and creating opportunities, the next 15 minutes proved to be a bit of chaos. Each team battled to get the ball on the opposing end. The Pilots getting three shots with just one on goal and Wesleyan taking two shots of their own, but Alcalde was able to prevent another from sliding by. The Pilots would see their opportunity in the 37th minute with a slotted by from Melike Dincel. Dincel sent the ball through a seam in the Rams' back line and Kirsten Nolan was on the other side. Nolan placed the ball beautifully passed Ortiz and brought the game to a draw to end the first half.
The second half the Pilots came out determined to dominate the Rams. In the 47th minute the Pilots took the lead. A bobbling ball off an Aimee Dilworth corner would be sent to the back of the net by a goal-hungry Dawniella Torres, her first goal of the season. Not even two minutes later Torres would do it once again off a ball played in by Charlotte Schmidt bringing the score to 3-1. The physicality of the game continued to grow as the half progressed. Both teams fired off shots, the Rams trying to find a glimmer of hope. The Pilots having found their groove maintained a steady flow of possession, swinging the ball across their backline, and finding the best way to proceed up the field. Mira Erixon extended the Pilots' lead by another margin with her goal in the 77th minute off of a Yuvia Vazquez ball. The Ram's frustrated and unable to find another scoring opportunity, saw their hopes once more dashed. Melike Dincel would find the lower corner in the closing seconds of the match off a quick combination with Madison Salas and Chelsea Brown to leave the game ending 5-1.
For Head Coach Dejan Milosevic today's match was more than just a game. "Personally, it was a game full of emotions. Texas Wesleyan university is my alma mater. I played there, and I also coached the Men's program for a few years before coming to LSUS. I've known Coach Gibbs since I was a player at TWU. I have a lot of respect for him and the legacy that he built at TWU," Milosevic explained. The match proved to be one of emotion and passion, with many players chirping back and forth and fighting for the win. "Texas Wesleyan came out stronger and punished us pretty quick. Even though we didn't have the best first half, we managed to create a couple of point-blank chances and scored a goal," Milosevic continued, "In the second half, we woke up and started playing better. We began moving the ball quicker and created a lot of chances. I am happy that four different players scored goals and five different players assisted for the goals. Even though we weren't on our highest level, we dealt with adversity very well and finished the game on a positive note. We will keep working."
Pilot of the Match
Dawniella Torres was named Pilot of the Match today for her go-ahead goal in the second half and the second their after. Dawny dominated the pitch both physically and mentally. Her speed on the ball as well as skill with it provided the Pilots with many scoring opportunities up top. Her vision of the field and drive to score gave her the upperhand. She finished the game with her first two goals of the season, four shots, and two shots on goal.
The Women's Soccer team will be back in action Saturday September 17th as they take on the SAGU Lions. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm CT in Waxahachie, Texas.
MORE INFORMATION
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