University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Denver
Cajuns Fall One Goal Short to Denver
11/3/2010 5:45:00 PM | Soccer
A strong second half wasn't enough for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns as they fell by a final score of 2-1 to No.17 Denver in the opening game of the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday in Bowling Green, Ky.
Playing in their first postseason tournament since 2007, the Cajuns gave up one goal in the first half and controlled the ball for much of the second half, but were unable to knock off the regular season champion Pioneers.
UL entered Wednesday's match as one of just two Sun Belt schools that had scored against Denver this season, and once again, they gave the Pioneers all they could handle, especially in the second half.
"I'm extremely proud of the effort the girls gave today," said head coach Scot Wieland. "It hurts to lose, but it helps to know that we came out against the best team in this conference and outplayed them in the second half."
UL (10-11) gave up the lone goal of the first half in the 19th minute to Denver's Kalie Vaughn and entered the locker room down by one goal.
The Cajuns came out in the second half and controlled the ball throughout. UL was able to get the equalizer in the 67th minute when Sun Belt Player of the Week Cayla Chatman netted her seventh goal of the season.
Shelby Isley delivered a pass to Chatman who put her shot over the goalie's head and under the cross bar to tie things up at one goal apiece.
However, Denver (18-2) used a through ball on a counter attack in the 70th minute to set up Kristen Hamilton in the box for the game-winning score.
The two sides were even in the shots category, each with 15, however, Denver put 10 shots on goal compared to UL's six.
Amanda Moorefield went the distance in goal for UL, making eight saves, her second highest total of the season. In her two matches against Denver this season, Moorefield has made 21 saves while allowing just four goals.
The loss closes out the season for the Cajuns who put their mark on the record book in 2010. UL posted the first 10-win season in school history and also tied the previous mark with five Sun Belt wins. The Cajuns also set school records for shutouts (7) and home wins (8) while tying the all-time record with just 28 goals allowed.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
