Box Score JACKSON, Miss. – In a battle of two 2013 NCAA Tournament participants, the defending Southland Conference Tournament champion Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team blanked Jackson State, 2-0, in the 2014 season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at the JSU Soccer Complex.
Southeastern (1-0) improved to 5-0 all-time versus the Lady Tigers (0-1). The victory for the Lady Lions was the second straight season-opening victory for the program and their eighth in the last nine seasons.
Sophomore
Bri Singh, the team's leading goal scorer from a season ago, netted both second-half goals for Southeastern. Junior
Gisenia Utreras and freshman
Maggie Ramsey each were credited with assists for the Lady Lions.
SLU sophomore goalkeeper
Hope Sabadash, the reigning Southland Freshman of the Year and Tournament MVP, finished with three saves to earn her first shutout of 2014 and 10
th of her career. The back line of senior
Chelsea Villaescusa, junior
Erin Christ, senior
Jen Babcock and sophomore
Alexsis Cable limited JSU to just five shots.
Southeastern head coach
Blake Hornbuckle was happy with the victory, but thought his team learned an early season lesson.
"We did an excellent job getting into the attack against a good Jackson State team, but we were unable to take advantage of those situations early in the match," Hornbuckle commented. "If we are able to capitalize on our opportunities in the first 15 minutes we would've changed the complexion of the match."
Hornbuckle singled out several individuals as being key to the team's win.
"Our entire defense was outstanding today," Hornbuckle said. "Hope was solid with her direction and our entire back line, as well as our defensive-minded midfielders helped get us in the attack and create opportunities. Bri did a nice job finishing her opportunities and we were pleased with the efforts of both Maggie and
Maddie Kresevic in their first collegiate matches.
Cheyenne Maxwell and
Katie Noonan were also very good in the central midfield."
Southeastern was the aggressor throughout the opening half, but could not find the net. The Lady Lions out-shot JSU, 11-1, in the initial 45 minutes, but Singh, Christ, Maxwell, Kresevic and junior
Kayla Vera had shots turned away and Southeastern went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
After Sabadash and the Lady Lion defense withstood an initial JSU charge to start the second half, Southeastern again took control of the match in the second half. However, the Lady Lions wouldn't break through until the 76
th minute.
Utreras penetrated down the right side of the field and played a perfect cross to Singh. The Lancaster, Calif. native headed in the match's first score just inside the far post.
Singh would strike again just over six minutes later to put the capper on the victory. Ramsey played a ball ahead and Singh was able to beat JSU goalkeeper Kylie Christian to give Southeastern a 2-0 lead.
Southeastern will open its nine-match home schedule on Sunday, when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Southeastern Soccer Complex. The Ragin' Cajuns defeated Sam Houston State, 1-0, on Friday. Admission to all Southeastern home matches is free and fans are encouraged to follow Southeastern Athletics (@sluathletics) and Southeastern Soccer (@slusoccer) on Twitter for in-match updates.
