PINE BLUFF, Ark.-The Lady Lions played a cross divisional SWAC game Friday afternoon versus the Lady Hornets of Alabama State. The girls played quite a game as they recorded the most goals scored and most shots per game, making UAPB soccer history.
The Lady Lions dominated the Lady Hornets by tallying 44 total shots, 25 shots on goal, and finishing the game with 12 balls in the back of the net. The final score was 12-0 for UAPB.
Senior midfielder Shantel Brown opened the scoring in the 6th minute after receiving a ball off a corner kick from sophomore midfielder Rachel Harker. The Lady Lions did not wait long to score again as Rachel Harker made another assist to sophomore forward Jade West in the 9th minute.
Harker continued to be a threat to the Lady Hornets as she scored her first goal of the game off an assist from sophomore forward Nicole Parks-Powell. Harker's goal was hit perfectly from 25 yards out and the ball was driven low past goalkeeper Veronique Lamontagne.
“Rachel played very well in the midfield and she was involved in each of the first three goals of the game,” UAPB Head Coach Mazza said. “It has just been a matter of time for Rachel to get on the board because of all her hard work this whole season. I am very proud that she has been able to keep working and step her game up to another level like she did this afternoon.”
The Lady Lions possessed the ball and continued attacking the Lady Hornets. The fourth goal was scored by freshman defender Shannon Ellis in the 18th minute of play.
“Shannon did very well by taking her player one on one, beating that player down the line, hitting a hard cross into the box, and getting a goal by her cross deflecting off a Lady Hornet defender. It just proves to her that she has the ability to beat players and create positive opportunities for her team,” Mazza said.
Overall the Lady Lions played a very good soccer game and some individual performances are worth mentioning. Harker had the most points per game by scoring 3 goals for a hat trick and making 2 assists; Shantel Brown also scored a hat trick; Jade West scored 2 goals and made 3 assists; Parks-Powell did very well for her team by making 3 assists; and freshman Noah Mithrush scored one goal and made one assist.
“I am very proud of what some of the girls achieved individually but I am even more proud of the team for making those situations possible. We played excellent soccer and it takes an entire team to score each goal,” Mazza said.
Coming off the bench, freshman Casey Hogan scored one goal and freshman Charade Davis made one assist. Defenders Chelsea Gordon and Kelsey Bellerive played very consistently on the defensive line.
“In the last 20 minutes of each half I felt very confident bringing players off the bench. The girls that came off the bench played well and made positive contributions to the final score of the game,” stated Mazza.
The Lady Lions next game will be a divisional SWAC game versus the Southern University Lady Jaguars Tuesday at 3:00pm at UAPB soccer field.
