Soccer: Cajuns Beat Southeastern Louisiana 1-0 For First Win
LAFAYETTE – Freshman Una Einarsdottir scored her first career goal on a penalty kick in the 31st minute to help lead the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to their first win of the 2017 season, beating the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions 1-0 here in Hammond at the Southeastern Soccer Complex.
The win, being the first for the Cajuns, improves their record to 1-3-0 on the season. While the loss for Southeastern Louisiana drops their record down to 1-3-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Half): Einarsdottir came out of the gate aggressive for the Cajuns, ripping their first shot of the game just wide in the 12th minute setting the tone for the game going forward.
Southeastern Louisiana, themselves, were aggressive as well putting the game’s first two shots on goal, first in 14th minute followed up shortly with another shot on goal in the 17th minute.
But Cajuns sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Lee, making her first start of the season, was up to the task stopping both shots for two quick saves maintaining the score at 0-0 within the first 17 minutes of up tempo action.
The teams went back and forth, in what was a physical game, but it was the physicality that gave the Cajuns what they’d been working towards, a lead.
In the 31st minute the Cajuns earned their first penalty kick of the season, and Einarsdottir was tasked with cashing in on the big opportunity.
Einarsdottir confidently stepped up to the spot, and in a moment where she looked more like a upperclassmen than a freshman, ripped the ball past the Lady Lion’s Michaela Hawthorn to give the Cajuns a 1-0 lead late in the first half.
From there the Cajuns locked things down and the game entered the break with Louisiana sitting on top 1-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Half): The Cajuns came out the gate, much like the first half, aggressive and looking to set the tone and senior Kimberly Grasso put a shot on goal in the 54th minute showing that the Cajuns weren’t just going to sit back and let Southeastern Louisiana attack without worry.
Louisiana faced a pressing Lady Lion team through the early parts of the second half, with the Lady Lions ripping three shots in less than a 10-minute period with the first shot coming in the 58th minute and the third coming in the 66th.
The tone that the Cajuns set from the start, didn’t change even with the lead and the Cajuns kept their attack on, using offense as the best defense to help them get the win.
Starting in the 71st minute, with Lee making a save on the Lady Lions only shot during the stretch in the 73rd minute, the Cajuns ripped off six shots and it wasn’t until the 86th minute did Southeastern Louisiana record another shot.
Freshman Ally Busalacchi started off the Cajuns powerful stretch with a shot on goal in the 71st minute. Senior Denice Emokpae joined the party with a shot that flew wide in the 73rd minute.
Sophomore Erika Sierra, showcasing her impressive endurance, ripped a shot wide in the 76th minute but she wasn’t finished and she forced Hawthorn to make two saves within four minutes.
The first coming in the 78th minute and Sierra quickly followed that up with yet another shot on goal in the 82nd minute.
Not looking to be left out, senior Ashleigh Cade finished the Cajuns superb stretch with a shot that soared just over the crossbar.
Lee made sure that she put the final stamp on the Cajuns first win of the season with a big save in the 86th minute, making sure the Cajuns hard work didn’t go to waste.
When the final whistle blew, with the score sitting at 1-0, the Cajuns had a celebratory bus ride in front of them back to Lafayette as the victors.
NOTEWORTHY: Lee started and played all 90 minutes recording four saves while facing nine shots from the Lady Lions; Joining Lee in the 90-minute club were Sierra, who finished with three shots, two of which were on goal, senior Whitney Taggart, junior Sarah Kozlowski, sophomore Kaylie Powell and senior Rebecca Foley; Grasso, Busalacchi and freshman Grace Champagne all came off the bench each recording one shot on goal; For the third straight game the Cajuns lead their opponent in shots finishing this game with 12 shots, six of which were on goal, to Southeastern Louisiana’s nine.
UP NEXT: The Cajuns return to the pitch on Sunday Sep. 3, when at 6 p.m. the Northwestern State Lady Demons travel to Lafayette and the Ragin’ Cajuns Soccer/Track Complex. The game will have free admission and for those fans who can’t make the trip out the game will be streamed live on Ragincajuns.com for free along with live stats.
Follow @RaginCajunsSOC on twitter for links to live streaming and live stats along with recaps and any news relating to the Cajuns soccer team.
