Roderic Lloyd
Staff Reporter | rsl010@latech.edu
Louisiana Tech women’s soccer had never defeated the Charlotte 49ers, the defending Conference USA tournament champs, until Friday when they won 2-1 at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.
The 49ers came into the contest winning eight of their last nine with an overall record of 9-4 and 4-1 in C-USA. Tech entered the game (9-2-4, 2-1-2 C-USA).
“I think it shows we can play with anyone now,” head coach Kevin Sherry said. “We have reached that level where we can play with the top teams because they are the top team. We are not afraid of anyone now.”
The first 45 minutes were dominated by the Lady Techsters as they took 10 shots, but failed to get on the scoreboard, entering half at nil-nil.
Sherry credited the Lady Techsters hard work not only in that half, but throughout the entirety of the game as being the best that he has seen.
“In high level sports if you are willing to work hard you stand a higher chance of good things happening,” Sherry said. “And tonight, that was the hardest that we have worked all season and naturally we got a good result.”
Sophomore forward Jenna Dages opened the scoring in the 59th minute as her shot deflected off of a 49er defender and over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper.
LA Tech’s lead did not last long, as the 49ers quickly responded with an equalizer in the 67th minute when Remi Roberts sent a cross to the far post, where a racing Megan Greene perfectly placed a header to knot the score at 1-1.
Dages responded once more, as Nomvula Kgoale struck a through pass that split the 49ers center backs in the 71st minute. Dages ran onto it and with one strike sent the shot just inside the far post. It brought her season points total to 16, eight of which are goals (five in league action), tying Mylene Roy-Ouellet for the most on the team.
The Lady Techsters defense stood strong to maintain the lead from then on, as the unwavering 49ers continued to attack until the sound of the final horn.
Goalkeeper Courtney Tompkins had four saves on the evening as she picked up her eighth win.
Makenna Johnson, a LA Tech defender, said they were determined to hold on and get the win.
“We played with great intensity and determination to overcome the talent on their team. We were not expecting to win this game but I think our team motto of playing with passion and fearlessness carried over and we went out and played to the best of our abilities to get the win,” Johnson said.
Johnson believes they can build on this game going into Sunday’s contest and throughout the rest of conference play.
“Coming out with this win definitely gives us some confidence and I think we’re going to use the momentum from this game and carry it throughout each and every game that we play going into the conference tournament,” Johnson said.