University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Northwestern State
Soccer Opens Season With 1-0 Victory
8/20/2011 3:06:00 AM | Soccer
The Louisiana soccer team opened their 2011 campaign with a victory on Friday night, edging Northwestern State 1-0 at Ragin' Cajuns Soccer/Track Facility.
For the third year in a row, the match between the two teams came down to overtime. Unlike the past two seasons the Cajuns came away with the victory.
The winning goal came in the 96th minute as junior Melissa Minton placed a hooking corner kick to the near post. The spin was too much for the NSU goalkeeper and slipped into the back of the net. This gave the soccer team and the UL athletic department its first win of the 2011 season.
Louisiana goalkeeper Amanda Moorefield was spectacular making six saves on the night, including two diving deflections in the second half. She earns her fifth career shutout.
The first half of the contest saw UL control the run of play from the onset. The team dominated possession, while peppering the Lady Demon goal with seven shots.
Junior Delaina McGhee led the Cajuns offensive charge at the front end of the period, putting two shots on goal. On her first shot, the midfielder made a striking run down the right side of the pitch to find space for a one-on-one with the charging NSU goalkeeper. Later in the half, she would put a header on goal off the cross of defender Megan Riley.
The Cajuns' best opportunity of the half came in the 42nd minute when reserve forward Cayla Chatman made a brilliant play on a UL counter-attack to produce Louisiana's second one-on-one of the game. Chatman then fired a low, driving shot from 15 yards out past the outstretched fingers of the keeper. The shot went just wide hitting the far post.
The UL defensive corps continued solid play from a season ago, holding the Demons without a shot until the 33rd minute of the game.
The second half saw a more wide open game with both teams playing back and forth throughout. Chippie play ensured as the two squads combined for the 17 fouls and two yellow cards.
Chatman continued to make great offensive runs for the threatening the NSU goal twice in the half.
The teams combined for the 10 shots in the second half, before sending the game to extra-time.
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns will resume their 2011 schedule on Sunday as they host in-state rival LSU at 1 p.m. Post-match stats and coverage will be available on RaginCajuns.com.
-- Ragin Cajuns --
