Box Score GEORGETOWN, Ky. – After not playing a game for a full week, Coach Thom Jones and Lady Tiger soccer squared off in a mid-week rivalry game against the Lady Tigers of Georgetown College. Campbellsville pitched a shutout while scoring two goals in the first half, winning 2-0.
Campbellsville struggled at the beginning with its passing attack and could not keep control of the ball. But CU started to get in the rhythm of the game and settled down.
"We struggled early as a team to keep possession of the ball," said Jones. "It's very hard to get any rhythm on offense when our passes aren't on target."
After CU settled down, freshman Chelsea Gill received a pass from Rachel Veatch. Gill controlled the ball and her attempt to cross the ball from the far side at 30 yards out just so happened to lob over out-reached arms of Georgetown goalkeeper, Danielle Lang, breaking the scoreless tie.
After Gill's second goal of her career, CU kept the pressure on Georgetown and added an insurance goal by Mhairi Fyfe, which was assisted by fellow freshman Sam Sandidge.
"That was a nice goal to get before half-time," said Jones. "We need to build off that and it proves that when we are applying constant pressure to the defense, our openings will come."
Campbellsville went into half leading 2-0, and all the 'mojo' was on the Lady Tigers wearing black jerseys.
Georgetown came out of the break and looked like a whole new team. The Lady Tigers in white and orange had five shots on goal compared to CU's one in the first 22 minutes of the second half.
"Our defense got a little scattered," said Jones. "They (GC) started to look for the longer passes and possess the ball more."
But Campbellsville kept its composure and held tough throughout the second half.
Most of the time in soccer, the defense does not get much credit because the average fan may care more about the scoring. But tonight, all the credit in the second half goes to the toughness of the CU defense. Savanna Stephens, Alysen Shireman, and Alex Shaffer all held their ground as Georgetown fought back and tried to get back in the game.
Stephens set the tone in the 64th minute with a great block off the foot of Sam Amend. Shireman also came up with a huge defensive play in the 55th minute as she battled with Amanda Hasl on a one-on-one break away and forced Hasl to take a contested shot on goal. Her shot was on target but All-MSC goalkeeper Brandie Hagerman made a diving save and her fourth of the game.
"Although we struggled with positioning on defense, we held tough to get the shutout," Jones said.
Georgetown's best chance of getting back in the game was when Hasl had the contested shot and was saved by a diving Hagerman.
GC also had a shot that was missed high by Amend off the cross bar in the 74th minute.
But other than these two possessions, Campbellsville's defense kept Georgetown from making a late run in the second half.
"Overall we played OK as a team," said Jones. "We did not play up to our full potential but we will definitely take the win."
With this win, Campbellsville has now beaten Georgetown twice since Thom Jones took over seven years ago. CU and GC ended the game with a tie in 2008 and Campbellsville won last season in two overtimes with a last-second goal by Rebekah Carl.
CU Lady Tigers will travel to Bluefield, Va. to take on the Lady Rams of Bluefield College on Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. EST. Live stats will be provided through DakStats. Live video may be available and will be updated later this week.
To follow all CU Lady Tiger soccer stats, scores and updates check them out on Twitter @CUWSTiger and follow Campbellsville Athletics @CvilleTigers and Campbellsville Tigers
Stat line for CU
Shots:
Jessica Ralph 5; Aris Kuntz 3; Chelsea Gill 2; Mhairi Fyfe 1; Sam Sandidge 1; Hannah Harris 1.
Shots on goal:
Ralph 4; Gill 2; Harris 1; Fyfe 1.
Goals:
Gill – 1 (15th minute)
Fyfe – 1 (32nd minute)
Assists:
Sandidge – 1 (Goal by Fyfe)
Saves:
Hagerman – 5
Game stats provided by Georgetown College
