PINE BLUFF, Ark - The Jackson State women's soccer team used first-half momentum coupled with a strong defensive stance down the stretch to claim a 4-2 win against UAPB Sunday afternoon in SWAC action at the Pumphrey Soccer Field.
Offensively, JSU found four different goal scorers in
Annalise Brunson,
Brynn Walker,
Kyla Sands, and
Alexes Sanchez.
Caiah Smith,
Maya-Joy Thompson, and
Olivia Cobb each added an assist.
In goal, freshman goalkeeper
Kora Fry recorded two saves.
"We are happy to win after playing so well for a long period without a victory", head coach
Dr. Ted Flogaites said. "I thought we played some champagne soccer early on and our passing was precision oriented and we used the dimensions of the field very well. While I despise conceding goals of any kind, our focus is that our team played in the way we are designed to play: to score four goals was a good feeling. The players deserve credit for a performance that was really good on multiple levels. And we had some superb ideas going forward that didn't come off but we have taken our foot off the handbrake and it's full throttle going forward in the attacking third. We are better able to express our talent because our intangibles are now more readily present. Nobody is bigger than the team and we played for each other today"
The Tigers struck quickly when
Annalise Brunson found the net in the 2nd minute. In the 8th minute,
Caiah Smith found
Brynn Walker driving to the net to extend the lead 2-0.
UAPB's Hailey Langley closed the gap in the 33rd minute with a goal to cut the deficit to 2-1 beofre halftime.
Minutes into the second half, JSU kept their foot on the gas and responded in the 53rd minute with a goal from
Kyla Sands that found the lower part of the net.
The Lady Lions closed the gap once more in the 66th minute off of a goal from Jackie Stokes.
In the 85th minute,
Alexes Sanchez sealed the deal with the final goal of the game. This win marks the first conference win of the season for the Tigers.
JSU will return to action Sunday, October 8 at home as they host Alcorn State in SWAC action. Kick-off is set for 3:00 p.m. CST.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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