HUNTSVILLE, Texas – HBU struck first but a pair of second half goals, including one off a free kick in the final minute, swung the game in Sam Houston State's favor as the Huskies dropped a 2-1 decision in Southland women's soccer action on Friday evening at Pritchett Field.
Sam Houston State (4-5-0, 2-0-0 SLC) put a pair of shots on goal between the 17
th and 23
rd minutes but
Ashtyn Franks made a pair of saves to keep things even at 0-0. The Huskies (1-8-0, 0-2-0) took a pair of shot attempts in the 26
th and 27
th minutes with
Xya Balderas missing high and
Ryan Ford missing left. HBU earned a corner kick at the 38:12 mark with
Avery Cortez's kick getting cleared out by the SHSU keeper but
Maggie Reynolds then found
Jessica Nevils outside the 18-yard box where she curled a shot over the keeper and inside the far post to put the Huskies up and into the half ahead 1-0.
In the second half, less than four minutes in, Caitlyn McDonald dribbled to the top of the box and lifted a shot that fell in just over the head of Franks to even things at 1-1. HBU missed a few shots off target the rest of the half while Franks made three saves to keep thing tied until the final minute. An HBU foul set the Bearkats up with a free kick from just outside the penalty area at the top of the box. The Bearkats' Bri Woodall then found the back of the net off the hand of a diving Franks for the game-winner.
The goal was Nevils' first of the season after netting three last season. Reynolds' assist was the first of her career. Franks finished the night with five saves. As a team, HBU attempted seven shots while SHSU attempted 13.
HBU will head to Nacogdoches, Texas to face Stephen F. Austin this Sunday, Sept. 29, afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
