LAKE CHARLES, La. – A pair of fouls inside the penalty set up
Alexa Huerta to score on a pair of penalty kicks and lead the HCU women's soccer team to a 2-1 road win over McNeese in Southland Conference play on Sunday afternoon at Cowgirl Field.
The win gives the Huskies (5-8-5, 3-3-3 SLC) 12 points in the SLC standings, moving them into a tie for eighth with Lamar and just one point behind UT Rio Grande Valley in seventh.
Emily Jaimes had four shots on goal for the Huskies in the game's first 28 minutes but McNeese (3-14-1, 0-8-1 SLC) goalkeeper Jackie Kelly was up the task each time to keep the game scoreless. HCU keeper
Emmy McKeon made a save at the 38:00 mark in the first half, deflecting the shot out of bounds and setting up the hosts for a corner kick. The corner bounced around in the box and fell to the feet of Florencia Saavedra who blistered a shot to the bottom right corner past McKeon for a 1-0 Cowgirl lead. HCU leveled, however, less than a minute later when a foul in the box set up Huerta from the penalty spot where she found the net to the bottom left corner.
The game was knotted, 1-1, at the half after the two teams combined to take 13 shots in the first period. The second half was much less active with just three total shots taken. HCU got the game-winner in the 81
st minute when
Adi Radwanski was knocked down in the penalty area while driving toward the goal. Huerta converted again, this time scoring to the bottom right corner for the Huskies' three points.
McKeon finished the day with three saves in goal, earning her fourth win of the season. Huerta's brace gives her five goals for the season. Jaimes led all players with four shot attempts. The two teams were even in shots with both registering eight attempts. The Huskies put seven of their shots on target, forcing Kelly into five saves.
HCU closes out the regular season at home at Sorrels Field on Friday, Nov. 1, against Texas A&M-Commerce at 7:00 p.m.
