Oct. 5, 2008

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls dominated second-half action, but five goals in the first half by SFA were too much to overcome as the Colonel soccer team fell 6-1 to the Lady Jacks Sunday afternoon at the Colonel Soccer Complex.

Nicholls (2-9, 0-2 SLC) got on the board in the 68th minute as Kaity Mattsson (Bracebridge, Canada/Bracebridge & Muskoka Lakes Secondary) knocked one into the back left of the net on a ricocheted shot by Alicia Gautreau (Gonzales, La./East Ascension) off the SFA keeper.

"At halftime we talked about not worrying about the score and trying to win the second half and get some momentum going," said Cindy Piper, head coach of the Colonels. "I was very proud of the girls for paying attention to that. We told them that we needed to come out for the second half for pride's sake and for the mental stability of our team and it was awesome to see them come out and do that."

Freshman Sarah Damen (Houma, La./Terrebonne) spent the first 45 minutes in goal for the Colonels, allowing five goals and making five saves. For the second half, Nicholls turned to freshman Lana Ashford (Baton Rouge, La./Tara) who allowed just one Lady Jack goal and made three saves.

Five different Stephen F. Austin (5-5, 2-0 SLC) players put a ball in the back of the net, with Kesia Broome bagging a brace as two of her three shots-on-goal crossed the line. Broome scored the only second-half goal of the day for SFA.

"Today was a tale of two halves," Piper noted. "In the first half they [Stephen F. Austin] came out and got a few goals. I don't know that SFA did anything specials, I just don't think that we were focused enough to stop them. A few mental mistakes seemed to be our issue in the first half and they were able to take advantage of that."

Mattsson led the Colonels in shots-on-goal with three of Nicholls' eight framed shots.

"Our girls took advantage of everything in the second half," added Piper, "creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities. The crossing drills and finishing drills that we've worked on in training were put to use in the second half. We need to work on putting 90 minutes together, but for us to get that goal and start to focus on creating scoring opportunities is a huge improvement."

Nicholls will hit the road next weekend, traveling to Texas-San Antonio (Oct. 10) and Texas State (Oct. 12).

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