CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The #20 Lady Tigers started their season Saturday afternoon with a top-20 matchup taking on the #17 SCAD Savannah Bees. Although they scored first, their defensive mishaps were too much as Campbellsville fell 5-2.
Campbellsville was quick to get their first goal of the season. In the sixth minute, Angeline Kieh, the lead goal-getter from the 2022 season, sent one in from 26 yards out after a dribbling clinic weaving through Bee defenders. To begin, it was all Lady Tigers. They had three shots on goal in the first ten minutes and out-shot SCAD 6-1 in the opening 15 minutes.
In the 18th minute, an errant pass back to goalie Rirei Sasaki was intercepted and converted to tie things up. Then, once play resumed, the same thing happened again for another score from the same Bee player. Just a minute and a half after that, a lengthy SCAD cross-through play found its intention, and the Bee took a shot right outside the box to send it to the back opposite post. And just like that, SCAD stormed back for three goals in under two minutes.
After they rallied from the shock, Agatha Nimene got a shot on goal, but the keeper jumped and knocked it away with outstretched gloves. At that point, possession was pinging back and forth between the two squads. In the 33rd minute, a Bee nailed a free kick from about 40 yards away. Near the end of the half, SCAD had a one-on-one breakaway for a potential hat trick, but Sasaki deflected it away with her foot.
At the half, both teams had the same number of shots on goal and corners, but the Bees had taken advantage of defensive lapses that led to easy shots. Their keeper had five saves, while Sasaki had two.
The Bees continued their offensive momentum in the second half, with junior forward Sydney Chura securing her hat trick in the 48th minute. A low-to-the-ground cross from Kieh to Nimene broke Campbellsville's scoring drought in the 62nd minute. The Lady Tigers increasingly held the ball and made strides toward the goal. Still, they were unable to convert, with shots often going wide. The match ended 5-2 for the SCAD Bees.
Campbellsville will be on the road for their next contest against the Shawnee State Bears. That match will occur on Saturday, August 26th, at 7 p.m. ET.
