JONESBORO, Ark. (10/11/13) — Behind a two-goal performance from sophomore forward Loren Mitchell, the Arkansas State women's soccer team defeated Western Kentucky 3-0 at the A-State Soccer Complex Friday afternoon.
The win ensures the Red Wolves (8-6-2, 3-3 SBC) a berth in the Sun Belt Conference tournament for the third consecutive season, and it marked the first win for the A-State women's soccer program over the Lady Toppers (7-4-4, 5-1) in the program's history.
“When we get together we are always trying to make history, and we knew Western Kentucky stood in between us and history,” A-State soccer coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge said. “The odds were stacked against us and for us to overcome those odds is a true testament of the hard work from my players.”
Mitchell, who recorded her second multi-game of the season in the victory, opened the scoring in the second half in the 69th minute on a nice header off of a free kick from Elizabeth Howard from just outside the 18-yard box. Howard's free kick sailed into a crowd of players, and Samhia Simao attempted a bicycle kick and caught just enough of the ball to deflect it to the waiting head of Mitchell, who placed a perfect strike just out of the reach of the Lady Topper's goalkeeper.
The goal gave the Red Wolves a 2-0 cushion, but Mitchell was not finished. She scored just three minutes later after taking a perfect pass from Simao from just outside the 18-yard box, and Mitchell beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one battle to quell any comeback attempt from the Lady Toppers.
“Everybody played really well today,” Ziyenge said. “The defense played outstanding, the midfielders did a great job of keeping the ball on the ground and the offense scored when it mattered most. Western Kentucky is an excellent second half team, and for us to beat them in the second half was really pleasing for me.”
The Red Wolves were the beneficiary of an early mistake by the Lady Toppers in the match's opening minutes. Howard attempted a corner kick in the 7th minute and the ball curved in toward Abolins in goal, who tried to punch the ball away, but instead deflected the ball into her own net for Howard's first goal of the season and an early 1-0 advantage for A-State.
From that point, the Red Wolves controlled the pace of the game and overpowered Western Kentucky's attack in the midfield. The squad took four shots on goal, most of which came in the first half, but A-State goalkeeper Amanda Lee stopped each attempt and earned her seventh victory of the year.
Mitchell now has 10 goals on the season, which is tied for the most in the Sun Belt Conference, and needs just two more to tie the all-time mark for goals in a season at Arkansas State.
Entering Friday's match the Lady Toppers had not allowed a goal in over 730 minutes and were undefeated in conference play. The win ensures the Red Wolves a spot in the SBC Tournament by virtue of points as the Red Wolves hold the tiebreakers over both Louisiana-Monroe and UALR should there by a tie for the final playoff spot.
A-State will close its home schedule Sunday at 1 p.m. against Georgia State. A ceremony to honor the Red Wolves' five senior athletes will take place after the conclusion of the match.
