Corner kicks lead to offensive explosion
HAMMOND, La. – Freshman Kelsey Martin scored her first two career goals on Sunday afternoon to lead the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team to its first win of the 2006 season, a 4-1 affair against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La.
The win improves the Lady Razorbacks to 1-1-0 on the season while Southeastern Louisiana falls to 1-1-0.
“This is a good win for us,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “Southeastern is a quality team and to come here in adverse conditions and pick up a 4-1 win is a good start for us. The team was very disappointed after Missouri State, so to bounce back and get a win is a step in the right direction. I thought that our entire team rebounded well from that double overtime match and showed great composure on the field today.”
Playing on a wet and muddy surface, the Lady Razorbacks were still able to use a decided speed advantage as they controlled the tempo of game from every aspect of the field. Playing ball control and making good passes despite the conditions, the Lady’Backs were able to cause fits to the Lady Lions back line.
The Lady Razorbacks got themselves on the scoreboard first for the second straight contest when freshman Kim Schleif scored her first career goal. Finding herself on the back end of a brilliant corner kick and flick, Schleif was able to deposit her shot from the far post into an empty net for the game’s first score and a 1-0 Lady Razorback lead. Sophomore Abbey Wilburn took the Arkansas corner kick from the right side and sent a nice ball to the near post where Allison Harris touched it with her foot and kept it moving across the six-yard box where it found an open Schleif.
A 1-0 game at the half, the Lady Razorbacks took a two goal advantage early in the second half when they capitalized on another corner kick. This time, Arkansas’ corner came from the left side and freshman Rachel Smith was the catalyst. Hitting a brilliant ball to the middle of the net, Smith’s strike was touched by the Southeastern keeper, but not cleared allowing freshman Kelsey Martin to knock in her first career score.
Being down by two didn’t bother Southeastern Louisiana as it came right back and scored its only goal of the contest just 12 seconds after Arkansas made it a 2-0 match. Taking the restart down the right side, Candice Wallace was left to take a long 30-plus-yard shot from outside the penalty area that floated over the Lady Razorback defense and into the back side of the net.
A one-goal contest for the next 14 minutes, the Lady Razorbacks fitness proved too much for the Lady Lions as they punished the slower team in the final moments. Taking control of the ball at midfield, Kathleen Paulsen sent a nice through ball to Lindsay Patterson just right of center. Patterson was able to hold off a defender and make a turn giving her a step on her nemesis and after a 10-yard-run sent a 20-yard shot from the right side to the far post making it a 3-0 contest.
Less than four minutes later, Arkansas would capitalize on its third corner kick of the day. Wilburn would again start the action for the Lady Razorbacks sending a long ball to the back side of the goal. After a scuffle in the penalty area, Martin would finally get a shot through the Southeastern Louisiana defense and into the net for her second score of the match and Arkansas’ fourth of the game.
The Lady Razorbacks open at home next Friday night when they host Northeastern State at 7:00 p.m. at Lady’Back Field. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.
