THIBODAUX, La. -- Despite host of tough obstacles -- tough non-conference opener, first-year head coach, delayed season -- poised to stand in the way, the Nicholls State University women's soccer program (0-1, 0-0 SLC) orchestrated a valiant performance in the team's 2021 spring kickoff against Southern Mississippi (1-0, 0-0 C-USA), dropping a "much closer than it looks" 2-0 match to the Golden Eagles on Wednesday afternoon at the Nicholls Soccer Complex.
KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- Outside of a few sparks by either offense, both squads settled into a back-and-forth defensive battle throughout the entirety of the first half, holding each other to a combined 12 total shots (seven on goal). The second period quickly turned into much of the same until, at the 64', USM's Ariel Diaz squeezed through a tight gap in the backline for a one-on-one with Red & Gray keeper
Reagan Carter, steering the ball off her right foot for the goal. An aggressive counter-attack by the Colonels generated few opportunities, but a late run by Diaz -- under 10 seconds -- saw her find the back of the net to secure the final score.
-- Individually, Carter put together an impressive outing in her collegiate debut between the pipes, snaring 11 saves and surrendering the two lone goals (one with the game all-but-decided).
-- Offensively, Georgia Southern transfer
Ester Hardardottir along with freshman
Junel Quintero applied the most consistent pressure, each logging on shot-on-goal for the day. Notably, Hardardottir nearly managed to sneak a breakaway run around the Golden Eagles' keeper midway through the first half, coming up just a half-step short.
-- Beyond Carter, the Colonels registered an array of collegiate debuts, including starters D
Caitlin Green, MF
Kristy Castelan, MF
Koryn Barrett, MF
Gianna Mitchell, and F Quintero along with reservists D
Kyla Manning, F
Leila Anderson, F
Mallory McReynolds and MF
Gabrielle Champagne. Transfers F Hardardottir and F
Rami Mitchell notched their first-ever showings in Red & Gray as well.
UP NEXT
With the season-opening home match against the Golden Eagles wrapped up, the Red & Gray shift focus to their first road contest of the year at in-state foe Southern, trekking north to Baton Rouge to square off with the Jaguars on Sunday, Feb. 7, kickoff slated for 1 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Women's Soccer, follow the team on Twitter (
@Nicholls_SOC), Instagram (
@nicholls_soccer) and like their Facebook page (
Nicholls Athletics).
-- #GeauxColonels --