Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana (SLC Semifinals)
SFA's Tremendous Season Comes to an End in SLC Semifinals
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana 1, No. 1 SFA 0
Bill Stephens Soccer Complex • Conway, Arkansas
2015 Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals
Records: SFA (9-8-2, 8-1-2 SLC); SLU (13-4-3, 6-3-2 SLC)
Photo Gallery
CONWAY, Ark. – The Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team saw its memorable 2015 season come to a close on Friday night in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals, as the Ladyjacks dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to Southeastern Louisiana at Bill Stephens Soccer Complex.
The Ladyjacks earned the top seed in the tournament after winning a fifth consecutive regular season championship. The team ends the year with a 9-8-2 overall record and an 8-1-2 mark in SLC play.
“Tonight was a good spirited match against two teams that wanted to win,” said head coach Wally Crittenden. “Southeastern Louisiana took advantage of some early opportunities that they created and that was the difference. We came out a little flat in the first half but I thought that our kids responded. Over the last 60-65 minutes of the entire game we did some really good things.”
The Lady Lions scored 7:24 into the game when Maggie Ramsey headed in a cross from Kayla Vera. The service was played across the box and placed inside the back post by Ramsey.
The Ladyjacks controlled the remaining time in the first half, creating several dangerous attacks that nearly resulted in goals. SFA doubled SLU up in shots (8-4) and also held advantages in shots on goal (5-2) and corners (4-1) at the break.
Midway through the first period, junior midfielder Amanda Doyle and junior defender Kelly Ann Craig both nearly found equalizers off corners. Doyle put three shots on frame in the span of just a couple minutes after great services from sophomore forward Hanna Barker and sophomore midfielder Madison Hall. Craig beat the SLU keeper with a header on one of the corners but her shot was cleared off the line at the last second by the near post defender.
In the 27th minute, freshman midfielder Bailey Bosley nearly capitalized on another corner from Barker, sending a header inches wide of the left post.
More opportunities presented themselves in the second half. Lauren Hall gave the Ladyjacks a good look to level the game in the 54th minute. Just minutes after entering into the game, she redirected a cross from M. Hall on target that required a diving save from the SLU keeper.
M. Hall, who made a free kick from the top of the 18 late in the year against Abilene Christian, nearly notched another from the same spot in the 66th minute. Her attempt rocketed off the right side of the wall, but had all the makings of a highlight reel goal.
SFA ended the night with a 20-13 advantage in shots, a 9-8 edge in shots on goal and an 8-3 disparity in corners.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Lillie Ehlert made six saves in the second half, including two stops on breakaway chances that kept her team in the game late. Freshman Allyson Smith made one save in the first 45 minutes of play.
“We need to recognize the things that this group accomplished this year because it was a special season,” said Crittenden. “We’ll use it to build on moving forward. It’s also important to recognize and pay respect to our seniors Rachel Owens, Chantal Curry, Ashton Norman and Amanda Fox, who just played their last game for a very accomplished program and a great senior class. I’m just really proud of the group as a whole.”
The fourth-seeded Lady Lions advance to the tournament championship to face No. 3 Sam Houston State, which beat No. 2 Houston Baptist 2-0 on Friday night. The championship match will be played on Sunday.
-SFA-
