Box Score



LORMAN, Miss. – Senior forward Maiya Cooper scored two goals, while senior midfielder Kerry McWhirter was credited with two assists as the Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team blanked Alcorn State, 4-0, in non-conference action Friday afternoon at Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium.
 
Southeastern (1-1) was never challenged, as Cooper's first goal came in the second minute and gave the Lady Lions a lead they never squandered on the way to the season's first victory. With Southeastern controlling possession for the vast majority of the match Alcorn State (0-3) could not muster any scoring opportunities, as the Lady Lions finished with a 25-0 shot advantage.
 
Cooper moved past 2012 Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame selection Kendra Oney into sole possession of second place on the school's career list with 40 goals and 94 points. Only Oney's fellow Hall of Fame inductee Kim McNally (55 goals, 127 points) has scored more than Cooper in a Lady Lion uniform.
 
Cooper wasn't the only Lady Lion to find the net, as a pair of freshmen scored the first goals of their collegiate careers. Casey Peacock and Erin Christ each scored for Southeastern off second-half corner kicks from McWhirter. Freshman Kayla Vera was also credited with her first collegiate assist on Cooper's early goal.
 
Southeastern senior goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus anchored a solid defensive effort, as McWhirter, Christ, junior Shanyce Shaw and sophomore Chelsea Villaescusa all kept ASU's offensive attack at bay. Bockhaus's shutout was the Southland Conference career record 31^st of her career.
 
“We're always pleased to get a win on the road,” Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle commented. “There's some things that we saw in today's match that we'll have to learn from as we continually improve.”
 
Hornbuckle touted numerous individuals for praise after Friday's victory.
 
“Maiya established herself up top right away and did a great job setting the tone for us,” Hornbuckle said. “We were also very pleased with the efforts of Kerry, both in the midfield and in the back. Erin was fantastic in the back and was a consistent ball winner for us, as was Lauren Stillians. She did a nice job getting us into our attack. We were also pleased with our execution on set pieces and are proud of Casey's effort on the first goal of her Southeastern career.”
 
Southeastern wasted no time going on the attack, as Cooper broke loose on the left side just over a minute into the match. Vera found the Hawthorne, Calif. native for an easy score to put Southeastern ahead, 1-0, just 70 seconds in.
 
Alcorn State tightened up the defense, as Lady Brave goalkeeper Ashley Murray saved eight shots in the opening half. Cooper finally beat her in the 33^rd minute, as she knocked a loose ball past a sliding Murray and sent Southeastern into the break with a two-goal cushion.
 
Murray and the ASU back line held up against a relentless Southeastern offensive attack in the second half, until Peacock found the net in the 69^th minute. McWhirter served up a well-placed corner and the Douglasville, Ga. native headed it inside the near post to put Southeastern ahead, 3-0.
 
Christ closed out the scoring with just over six minutes left. McWhirter's corner sailed over the hands of Murray and the Irvine, Calif. product headed in a goal into the upper left corner of the net to provide the final 4-0 margin.
 
Southeastern opens its home schedule on Sunday, welcoming Southern Miss for a 4 p.m. match at the Southeastern Soccer Complex. The first 100 students in attendance will receive free food from Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. In addition, Southeastern Athletics will draw one lucky student to win $25 for every 25 students that attend the match.
 
Sunday's match will also be the first event in the Greek Challenge, which runs through October 27. The Greek organization that accumulates the highest total attendance at Southeastern home events from Aug. 26 – Oct. 27 will earn $1,000. Second prize is $500 and third place receives $250.