RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team battled in its Southland Conference (SLC) opener Thursday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex but dropped the match, 2-0, to the Northwestern State (NSU) Demons.
UTRGV's (3-5-1, 0-1 SLC) defense was stout to keep the match scoreless after the first 45 minutes. The Demons (5-2-2, 1-0 SLC) took 12 shots in the first half and pushed the pace of the match, peppering the attacking third in spurts. UTRGV sophomore goalkeeper
Heiddis Sigurdardottir recorded five saves in the first half and finished the match with a career-high eight saves.
Junior midfielder
Olivia Smith, graduate student defender
Abbie Bailey and sophomore defender/midfielder
Erika Parker were among the Vaqueros anchoring the defensive effort. They forced NSU shots off target and made timely blocks to help prevent the Demons from finding the net despite getting five corners in the first half.
The Vaqueros put just one of their four shots on goal in the opening frame off the boot of Parker. But they opened the second with a quick shot from graduate student midfielder
Sam Maudsley, which was saved by
Kennedy Rist.
Northwestern State went back on the consistent attack after the fast start and took a 1-0 lead on a goal by
Hosane Soukou in the 61
st minute. The Demons held a heavy presence in their offensive third as the match rolled on, sending shots toward the net frequently. Sigurdardottir tabbed her sixth save in the 67
th minute and the Vaqueros defense broke up a good look just minutes later.
Sophomore midfielder
Rubi Ortiz and junior defender
Yiselle Bernal worked to spark the offense for UTRGV. Ortiz put a shot on goal in the 66
th minute, and Bernal used her speed to create a chance in the 74
th minute that was deflected by a diving Demons defender. Smith added a shot in the 76
th, but Rist held strong to keep NSU in the lead.
The Demons continued to rack up shots as they controlled possession late in the match. Sigurdardottir made nice saves in the 81
st and 83
rd minutes, but
Paige Baumgartner found the back of the net in the 84
th minute to make it 2-0 in favor of the Demons. Northwestern State maintained possession for the final minutes and burned clock deep in their offensive third to put the match away. The Demons outshot UTRGV 21-8 and Risk made five saves.
UTRGV's next match is an SLC contest set for Sunday at 11 a.m. against Southeastern at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Fans can secure complimentary admission for all home men's and women's soccer matches by getting the
UTRGV Soccer Pass.
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