THIBODAUX, La. - The HBU women's soccer team got the offense firing early on Saturday afternoon versus the Nicholls Colonels, winning the Southland Conference game by a 3-0 final.
Just over seven minutes in, HBU (3-10-1, 3-7-0 SLC) jumped out to an early lead with senior
Noor Abukishk scoring to the low left with an assist by
Lauren Avila less than 40 seconds after an Abukishk attempt missed wide right. The Huskies continued to put the pressure on the Colonels (0-15-1, 0-10-1), putting up ten shots to Nicholls' six in the first half. HBU goalkeeper
Karla Ramirez made four saves in the half, including one in the 44
th minute, shortly before the Huskies went into halftime leading 1-0.
There was no let up in the second half as the Huskies attacked the Colonels early, earning a pair of corner kicks in the first five minutes. In the 63
rd minute,
Avery Cortez put a shot off the crossbar with a
Ryan Ford shot getting stopped 30 seconds later.
A few minutes later, at the 66:57 mark, Abukishk and Avila switched roles with Avila finding the net with an assist from the senior. The third and final goal came in the 73
rd minute off the foot of Cortez, just 35 seconds after checking back into the game, with an assist from freshman
Katie Marker.
The Huskies finished the game with 21 shots with 11 of those coming in the second half flurry. Nicholls ended the game with eleven total shots with only four in the second half. HBU's 21 shots mark the team's second-highest total of the season with their 11 shots on target tied for the season-high. In goal, Ramirez finished with four saves in earning the shutout win.
With the win and other results from around the conference, HBU's hopes of a postseason berth to the 2021 Southland Conference Championship tournament remain alive. The Huskies will close the season on the road on Friday, Apr. 9, in Corpus Christi, Texas against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders.
