Box Score
TROY, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team scored a goal in the second minute and used another stellar defensive effort to defeat Troy, 1-0, in non-conference action at the Trojan Soccer Complex.
With the win, the Lady Lions are off to a 2-0 start to the season for the sixth time in school history and the first time since 2007. Troy suffered its first loss of the year, falling to 1-1 overall.
Southeastern got the only score it would need just over a minute into the match. Pressure up top for the Lady Lions allowed sophomore
Kerry McWhirter to attempt a corner kick. With sophomore
Karly Dagys drawing attention, Troy defender Ceil Martinec was distracted and McWhirter's kick hit off Martinec and went into the net.
“We're very pleased to go on the road for the first time and earn a win against a very good Troy team,” Southeastern head coach
Blake Hornbuckle commented. “We were fortunate to use our pressure to create a set piece early in the match and Kerry hit a great ball that found its way into the net.”
After the early score, Southeastern relied on its defense to hold the lead. The Lady Lions received another flawless performance from junior goalkeeper
Lacey Bockhaus, who posted her second shutout of the season and finished with five saves.
The shutout was the 23rd of the San Leandro, Calif. native's career, leaving her one short of matching the school's career record of 24 shutouts held by former Lady Lion Nicole Helmig. Bockhaus needs just three more shutouts to pass former SFA goalie Natascia Michalezki as the league career record holder.
“Lacey was tremendous in goal today,” Hornbuckle said. “She made one tough save and was really in control. Her distribution was fantastic.”
Hornbuckle was again pleased with the efforts of the defensive backfield. Senior
Brittany Prieto, junior
Lauren Crawford and freshman
Shanyce Shaw were strong for the second straight match. The Lady Lion defensive efforts were buoyed by the return of preseason All-Southland Conference performers
Nicole Brannigan and
Kyle MacIntosh – both who missed last Friday's 2-0 win over Mississippi Valley State.
“We felt the entire back line played well tonight and did a nice job holding space,” Hornbuckle stated. “It was great to have two starters back in Nicole and Kyle. Nicole played very well and Kyle was a difference maker in the back.”
Southeastern will be back in action on Sunday, facing Alabama State at 1 p.m. in Montgomery, Ala.
