HOUSTON – For the second-straight game, the HCU women's soccer team held a distinct advantage in shot attempts but dropped a one-goal decision to McNeese at Sorrels Field on Sunday afternoon.
HCU (3-7, 1-3-0 SLC) put some early pressure on the Cowgirls (6-4-2, 3-0-1 SLC) and in the 28
th minute a cross from
Evelyn Slaughter found
Olivia Rossman in front of the goal but her attempt to the bottom left corner was stopped by Jackie Kelly who recovered and was in position to make a quick second save off the rebound by
Ryan Ford. Later in the half, in the 40
th minute, HCU set things up near midfield with
Felicia Hernandez connecting with
Emma Smith who sent a ball into the box that Slaughter got a foot on first, redirecting it past Kelly for a 1-0 HCU lead. That lead was short-lived, however, with Magalie Depot evening the score at 1-1 less than three minutes later.
McNeese took the lead in the 56
th minute, on just the team's third shot of the game, thanks to a header by Kaile Kukaua on a long ball played into the box by Martine Ellefsen. The Huskies continued to pepper shots at the McNeese goal, forcing Kelly into seven saves in the second half, but were unable to find the equalizer.
Slaughter's goal was her first of the season while the assists by Hernandez and Smith were also firsts. Goalkeeper
Taylor Sanderson made one save in goal for HCU. The Huskies totaled 20 shots attempts with 12 on goal while holding the Cowgirls to just four total shots. Kelly, the McNeese keeper, finished with 11 saves.
HCU travels to Commerce, Texas for the team's next game, facing Texas A&M-Commerce at Lion Soccer Field at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6.
