Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore forwards Maiya Cooper and Karly Dagys each scored in the final 11 minutes to help the Lady Lion women's soccer team rally for a 2-1 Southland Conference victory over Central Arkansas Friday afternoon at the Southeastern Soccer Complex.

Dagys broke a 1-1 tie with just 48 seconds left to send Southeastern (13-2-3, 6-1-1 Southland) to its sixth straight victory. With the thrilling win, the Lady Lions remain atop the Southland Conference standings and can clinch at least a share of the league regular season title with a win over Northwestern State in Sunday's 1 p.m. season finale.

The Lady Lions out-shot UCA, 17-4, but the Bears (6-8-3, 2-4-2 Southland) held a 1-0 lead until Southeastern finally broke through down the stretch and helped seniors Natalie Santana, Nicole Brannigan and Brittany Prieto celebrate Senior Day with a clutch win.

“Our two goals up top were the result of relentless pressure up top by Maiya and Karly,” Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle commented. “We created a lot of opportunities early, but couldn't find the net. We're very pleased that we kept the pressure up top after falling behind. The excellent play of Lauren Stillians in the midfield and Nicole in the back was key for us today against a tough, resilient Central Arkansas team.”

Southeastern came out as the aggressor in a scoreless first half. The Lady Lions outshot UCA, 10-1, in the opening period, but had several near misses while UCA goalkeeper Kelsey Gochnauer made several impressive saves.

The Lady Lions had near misses early in the second half, but the Bears took advantage of a scoring opportunity in the 65th minute. Kari Mars played a ball ahead to Alex Barnett, who drilled a shot into the past Southeastern junior goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus into the upper right corner of the net to put UCA ahead, 1-0.

Down a goal, Southeastern turned up the pressure down the stretch. The Lady Lions knotted the score in the 80th minute. Dagys penetrated down the right flank, drew Gochnauer out and slipped a pass to Cooper, who finished from point blank range.

The two Southeastern sophomore scorers switched roles in the final minute. Cooper spun past a defender, crossed the ball to Dagys who finished past Gochnauer for the winning score.

Cooper's score was her team-high ninth goal of the season – the 10th-most in school history – and her 23rd of her career, which moved her into a tie with Santana for fifth place on the school career's list. Cooper also now has 53 points in her career, moving her past Southeastern Hall of Famer Kim Kwolek for eighth place on the school's career list. Dagys now has a league-high nine assists – the fifth-highest total in school history.

Children who attend Sunday's match versus Northwestern State in costume will receive free admission with the accompaniment of a paying adult.