NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team fell 2-1 to the Northwestern State (NSU) Demons in the Southland Conference (SLC) season finale Thursday at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
The Vaqueros (4-12-2, 0-8-2 SLC) tied the match in the 19th minute when junior
Sienna Gillespie delivered the equalizer, sending a right-footed shot from way beyond the box into the top right corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1. Gillespie was rallied by her teammates as they celebrated her second career goal.
Northwestern State (9-9, 6-4 SLC) regained the lead in the 54th minute when
Kate Bouck connected on a right-footed shot into the top center of the net off an assist from
Gabriela Page, putting the Lady Demons ahead 2-1.
NSU opened the scoring in the 14th minute when
Kendall Hemperley found the bottom right corner of the net with a left-footed shot off an assist from
Maliya Maldonado, giving the Lady Demons a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Demons continued to apply offensive pressure throughout the first half, outshooting UTRGV 13-3, including a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal. However, UTRGV goalkeeper sophomore
Mariana Amezcua kept the Lady Demons from regaining the lead, recording four saves in the opening 45 minutes.
Amezcua recorded a save on
Paige Baumgartner, when she took a shot in the 29th minute before stopping
Tayla Crandell shot attempt in the 34th minute. Amezcua came up with another save in the 40th minute, denying Baumgartner's second shot on goal.
The Vaqueros looked to create another scoring opportunity in the 38th minute when freshman forward
Anuhea Aalona fired a shot off target.
The Vaqueros made a change in goal in the 60th minute as freshman
Rae Barrington-Hibbert replaced Amezcua. Barrington-Hibbert recorded a save in the 62nd minute, denying Maldonado's shot to keep UTRGV within one goal.
UTRGV continued to battle throughout the second half and created a scoring opportunity in the 69th minute, earning their first corner kick of the match.
The Vaqueros made a late offensive push in the final minutes as freshman
Londyn Johnson fired a shot that was blocked in the 89th minute, resulting in a corner kick.
Sienna Church followed with another shot that was blocked in the 90th minute, giving UTRGV another corner kick opportunity.
NSU held a 23-7 advantage in shots, 8-1 on shots on goal, and 4-3 on corner kicks.
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