BOONE, N.C. – A penalty kick by freshman
Brenna McPartlan and a shutout from junior
Justice Stanford led women's soccer past Appalachian State 1-0 Sunday (Oct. 14).
The Jaguars move to 7-8 overall and 5-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers move to 7-7-1 and 4-3.
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama freshman
Moa Öhman fired off the first shot of the game wide right 6:30 into the opening half
- Appalachian State's Jessica Peters put the first shot on goal in the 29th minute, but Stanford made the save
- After a Mountaineer foul in the box, McPartlan put home the penalty kick at the 43:54 mark to give the Jags a 1-0 lead
- Shots were 4-3 in favor of Appalachian State in the first half, with each side putting one on target
- The Mountaineers had seven shots in the second half, but failed to put one on goal
- McPartlan and freshman
Morgan Cross each had a shot on goal in the second half, but both attempts were saved by Appalachian State goalkeeper Taylor Ray
NOTES
- McPartlan tallied her team-high fifth goal
- With two shots on goal, McPartlan now has 28 such attempts for a team high in the category
- Stanford collected her fifth shutout of the season and the 23rd of her career
- Cross' shot on target was her seventh of the season
- Öhman now has 39 shots this season
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "I thought it was a good game from both teams. It's not our best performance by any means. In the first 20 minutes they pressed us. We were able to cope with it once we got the ball down the field in the opening half. That's what led to the penalty. A good running play and a good ball that came in from Brenna (McPartlan) to Morgan Cross, who wins the penalty. Brenna marks her spot and makes it. I think we were able to hang on to the 1-0 lead because they pressed us all first half. The chances they had around the box were crosses our keeper came out and collected."
On the defensive play helping lead to victories: "You've got a Aníta Ágústsdóttir and Hannah Godfrey as defenders, Justice Stanford in goal. Those three have been stable. The fullbacks have been changing. Deanna Green got hurt Friday night. Gracie East picked up a knock. Camryn Lyster steps in and does great. Tilly Wilkes has played left-mid and has jumped in at leftback. For the multiple times we've had to change the back four, which you don't like to do, the girls have responded well and those three have dealt with that well. It makes it difficult to get into a rhythm or pattern playing with someone different next to you week in and week out. That makes it difficult. But the girls did what they needed to do to win the game today and we played for and got the result."
On McPartlan scoring big goals in recent games, but the team effort it took to win today: "She stands out because she scores. She's a top-class player. We have lots of top-quality players. She's the one right now taking the moments. She came up with the goods, but it was a great team performance. When we were looking at each other at the start of the game we had 15 bodies and they've got 30 and can only use 22. When they're rotating five at a time and we're rotating bodies in and out one at a time just trying to stay fresh, what a team performance. No doubt Brenna stepped up when we needed it most. I think between her and Moa Öhman today were two great individual performances, but it can't be overshadowed by the collective efforts of the group. We played phenomenally and like champions today."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars prepare for a home contest on Oct. 19 against Louisiana at 7 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Upper 90 Club, the soccer specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All gifts to the Upper 90 Club go directly to support the South Alabama soccer program. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/upper90
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