CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Tatum Printy headed in the eventual game-winner in the 77
th minute to give the Islanders a 2-1 upset victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference action Sunday afternoon at Dugan Soccer Stadium.
With the loss, SLU fell to 8-3-1 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference play. The Islanders (1-8-2, 1-3-1 Southland) picked up its first victory of the season with the upset of the Lady Lions.
In the loss, senior
Gisenia Utreras netted a penalty kick to give Southeastern the lead early in the second half. The goal was the team-high eighth of the season by the Brampton, Ontario, Canada native. However, A&M-Corpus Christi answered with two goals to end an 0-2 trip to Texas for SLU.
The Lady Lion roster that rolled off a seven-match unbeaten streak has been depleted by injuries to starters. Both of SLU's starting forwards – senior
Kayla Vera and freshman
Sofia Olsson – missed Sunday's loss.
"We struggled today," Southeastern head coach
Blake Hornbuckle said. "We felt like (sophomore)
Maddie Kresevic had a good day in the back and Gisenia was able to create some opportunities for us. We have to continue to focus on what we do well and bounce back from this trip."
After a scoreless first half, SLU took the lead five minutes into the second half. After an Islander foul, the Lady Lions were awarded a penalty kick. Utreras sent a shot past Islander goalkeeper Megan Delaney to give Southeastern a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Lion advantage would be short-lived. Five minutes later, Hailey Sutton curled in a shot from 20 yards out past SLU junior goalkeeper
Hope Sabadash to knot the score at 1-1.
Much like in Friday's loss at Houston Baptist, the game-winning goal came off a set piece opportunity. Printy headed in a corner kick by Meghan Cordero to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead that they would maintain for the victory.
In the final minute, Utreras put two shots near the Islander goal line, but the officials ruled that A&M-Corpus Christi was able to keep the ball from crossing the line.
Southeastern will look to bounce back on Friday, when it hosts Lamar at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
