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Stephens’ Big Day Helps Soccer Open Season With 5-2 Win
Files associated with this release: Stephens’ Big Day Helps Soccer Open Season With 5-2 Win
HATTIESBURG,
“We had opportunities early and we took those opportunities,” Head Coach Gail Macklin said. “That’s an important thing for us to accomplish in these early matches.
“I thought we also played well defensively,” Macklin said. “We changed our starting line-up, starting Kalee Silovsky instead of Erin Bunyard, because she sustained a concussion at Texas A&M. It was good that we got Kalee, Erin Hamrick and Kara Harshbarger more minutes and they did a good job.”
Southern Miss now opens its season 1-0 for the third consecutive season and three of the last four seasons. The Lady Eagles also improve to 5-4 in season openers overall, including a 4-1 mark at home, winning the last four season opening matches at the Southern Miss Track and Field and Soccer Complex. Southern Miss, which also snapped an eight match losing streak dating to last season, also now leads the series against Louisiana-Lafayette 2-0, also claiming a 2-0 victory in 2003.
Stephens, who had surgery on her knee two weeks ago and entered today’s match with three career goals, posted the first two goal match since Carly Barkley finished with two at Birmingham-Southern last season. Stephens also posted two assists for the third time in her career and became the first Lady Eagle to accomplish the feat since she posted two against
The Alvarado, Texas native became the fourth Lady Eagle player to finish a game with two goals and two assists, joining Lauren Prewitt (Mississippi Valley State, 2003), Stacey Hall (DePaul, 2000) and Leila McReynolds (Louisiana-Monroe, 1999).
Stephens now has nine career assists, and moved into sixth place alone all-time in school history.
Southern Miss scored the first goal of the game at the 9:32 mark, as freshman Sara McFadden netted her first career goal off assists from Micah Stephens and Katie McClary.
Louisiana-Lafayette responded with a goal of its own 38 seconds later, as Dannae DeVahl tied the game at 1-1.
The Lady Eagles responded 10 minutes later, as Kim Turner, also one of Conference USA’s Players to Watch in 2005, scored her first goal of the season and third of her career off an assist from Stephens.
Five minutes later, Stephens netted her first goal of the contest, on an unassisted kick past
Junior Carly Barkley, who returned as the team’s leading goal scorer entering the season, put the Lady Eagles ahead 4-1 at halftime, scoring her first goal of the season on a corner kick, for the 15th goal of her career.
In the second half, Stephens netted her second goal of the contest at the 55:14 mark, also on an unassisted kick.
Louisiana-Lafayette’s Taunya Geelhoed made the final score of 5-2 with a unassisted goal at the 72:03 mark.
“We had a good overall performance,” Macklin said. “Any time you jump to a 4-1 lead after one period, it can be hard for any team to stay focused and motivated. From a confidence standpoint, it helps us and we’re looking forward to the next match.”
Southern Miss outshot Louisiana-Lafayette 21-8, including a 5-2 margin on shots on goal. The Lady Eagles also posted three assists.
Freshman goalkeeper Holly Cox finished with three saves for Southern Miss, while Weston had four for Louisiana-Lafayette.
McFadden led Southern Miss with five total shots, while Turner had three and Megan Kolts added two.
Southern Miss now hits the road for two matches next weekend, facing
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