Soccer: Cade’s late goal lifts Cajuns over Northwestern State

 

LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns soccer team broke through with the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute against visiting Northwestern State after sophomore midfielder Ashleigh Cade scored from the right side of the Northwestern State goalie box off a pass from junior Annika Schmidt on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

The win was the Cajuns’ (4-2-0) third in a row and gave the program its fourth win in the last five matches.

 

 

Louisiana had their scoring opportunities in the early going, outshooting the Lady Demons, 4-0 in the first 14 minutes of play. The first half ended with both teams at seven shot attempts apiece.

 

 

At the 53-minute mark, Northwestern State’s Shelby Drope looked to break the scoreless tie, but was denied by Louisiana freshman goalkeeper Cosette Morche (4-2-0), who recorded six saves on the afternoon.

 

 

Schmidt had a pair of looks in the 54th and 58th minute but Northwestern State keeper Alex Lathan, who entered the match for starter Brooke Bourbanais to start the second half, came up with saves. The Cajuns nearly pulled ahead at the 81:29 mark when Schmidt’s shot grazed the Northwestern State crossbar, but quickly created another scoring opportunity 25 seconds later to take the 1-0 lead.

 

 

"It was a great team effort, not just today but for the entire weekend," Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Scot Wieland said. "Considering the heat today, I was really proud of the girls for taking care of business at home. Today we had a great defensive effort, the perfect assist to set up the goal, just a complete team effort. It’s always important to protect home field."

 

 

The Cajuns are 4-2-0 for the second consecutive season and third time in four years. Louisiana evened the all-time series at 7-7-0 against the Lady Demons and shutout Northwestern State for the second straight meeting.

 

 

The Ragin’ Cajuns are slated to play in the Baylor University Tournament in Waco, Texas next week. They will face UTSA next Friday, September 11 at 4 p.m. and finish the weekend with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Northern Illinois on Sunday, September 13.