University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
Cajuns Hold On in High Scoring Contest
10/8/2010 7:26:00 PM | Soccer
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns soccer team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Arkansas State on Friday afternoon and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Red Wolves at home.
The Cajuns (7-7-0, 2-3-0) number one threat as of late, Chelsea Balestra, scored two goals to pace the Cajuns. The two strikes were Balestra's fourth and fifth goals in the last five games.
Sophomore captain Gayla Foster got the Cajuns on the board early with a 9th minute goal. Carleigh Martin delivered a corner kick that curved into ASU goalie Susan Brown. Brown made the save, but Foster was in perfect position to gather the rebound and place it in the back of the net. The score was the second of the season for Foster.
It only took three more minutes for Balestra to give UL a two goal advantage. Jordan Blevins delivered a through ball that put Balestra behind the defense and a one-on-one with Brown.
Balestra's placed her shot past the Red Wolves keeper to put UL up 2-0.
The Plano, Texas native would put the Cajuns up 3-0 in the 24th minute thanks to a Kelli Jestes assist. The two goals gave Balestra six for the season, the highest total on the team.
Arkansas State (4-8-1, 0-5-0) would fight however. They would get one goal back just before the half as Ann Kaloghirou netted a 41st minute goal the get ASU within two at halftime.
The Red Wolves would also get a strike early in the second half, thanks to a 55th minute scored from the foot of Kelsey Finders.
"The game was a good battle between two good teams," said assistant coach Jen Gardner. "We definitely improved from last weekend, but our second half performance wasn't as strong as we would like."
The Red Wolves controlled the ball throughout the early portions of the second half, but UL fought back and matched Arkansas State's aggression in the closing stages of the match.
The Cajuns outshot ASU 14-11 on the day, including 9-5 in shots on goal. The five combined goals in the match were the most in a UL contest thus far this season.
Amanda Moorefield (7-7) made three saves while playing the entire 90 minutes in goal for the Cajuns.
Brown (3-7) was replaced shortly after giving up the Cajuns third goal by Megan Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus made five saves for ASU in her 61 minutes of action.
The Cajuns return home on Sunday when they host UALR at 1:00 p.m. The match will mark UL's annual breast cancer awareness match. The players will wear pink jersey's that will auctioned off after the game.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
