RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team dropped its season-opening match 2-0 to the Southeastern Louisiana Lions Friday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
UTRGV freshman goalkeeper
Emilia Compian tallied four saves on 13 shots faced and junior defender
Abbie Bailey had two shots on goal. The Lions goals were scored by
Emma Jones and
Kelsey Fuller. Southeastern Louisiana goalkeeper
Olivia Griffin recorded two saves on three shots faced.
Southeastern Louisiana was on the attack throughout the match. Compian made her first career save in the sixth minute and had some strong moments in the first half. She was aggressive coming out of the box to contest shots and notched three saves on eight shots faced in the first half.
The Lions took the 1-0 lead in the 27
th minute off an unassisted Jones shot after a free kick that was deflected. They remained aggressive and sent another shot on goal less than two minutes later, but Compian came up with her second save to keep the Vaqueros within one goal.
Southeastern Louisiana extended the lead to 2-0 in the 35
th minute after Fuller's shot was deflected.
Haylli Roe assisted on the goal after a throw-in.
Graduate student forward
Jeweleen Reuille, junior midfielder
Ana Recarte-Pacheco and junior midfielder
Molly Reynosa directed the UTRGV offense, which had no problem getting into the attacking third and had four corner kicks, but the Vaqueros recorded just one shot in the opening frame off the foot of freshman midfielder
Olivia Smith in the 31
st minute.
Southeastern Louisiana had two good looks in the first two minutes of the second half but Compian and Co. kept the Lions off the board. Junior defender
Nadia Colon and Bailey were leading the defensive effort for the Vaqueros. Bailey broke up an attempt in the box early in the second half, and later showed off her speed to race up the pitch and stymie another attack while earning a free kick for UTRGV.
Reuille and freshman midfielder/forward
Anna Hansson helped the Vaqueros move the ball, but Southeastern Louisiana's swarming defense kept UTRGV contained.
Bailey's effort was noticed on both sides of the ball as she recorded UTRGV's only shots on goal, applying pressure in the 61
st and 67
th minutes, but both shots were saved.
Southeastern Louisiana put just one shot on goal in the second half, which came in the 87
th minute as the Lions continued to press with the lead, and Compian was up to the task to record her fourth save. Colon was a key part of the improved defensive effort from the Vaqueros which kept the Lions quiet in the second half.
The Vaqueros are back in action Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex for a 6:30 p.m. South Texas Showdown match, presented by Rally Credit Union, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Support UTRGV Women's Soccer |
Become a Fan on Facebook |
Follow us on Twitter |
Follow us on Instagram |
Follow us on YouTube
