Lady Lions rally in 2nd half for 2-1 win over Louisiana Tech

Published 10:21 am Monday, October 4, 2021

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Sophomore Haylli Roe’s goal in the 60th minute from the far right side 30 yards out proved to be the game-winner for the Southeastern Louisiana University women’s soccer team in a 2-1 victory over Louisiana Tech in non-conference action Sunday at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.

The Lady Lions (5-5-1, 3-2-1 Southland) scored two second half goals to rally from a 1-0 deficit as Ellie Williams netted her third career goal while Roe scored her second.

Louisiana Tech (5-7-1, 1-3 Conference USA) took the lead just seconds into the match when Maci Geltmeier scored on the lead pass from Carmen Suarez.

The early goal seemed to ignite Southeastern as they took control of the match outshooting Louisiana Tech 8-2 in the first half, including three shots on goal.

“Our players really handled that goal well,” said fifth-year SLU soccer head coach Chris McBride. “We started off the last few games a little flat but this time we responded well to adversity.”

SLU kept up the pressure in the second half with it paying off in the 54th minute. Williams took the perfectly placed cross from Darby Gillete right in front of the Louisiana Tech net. Williams, the junior from Frisco, Texas, did the rest as she punched it into the net to tie the match.

“That was a really great cross that we finished well,” said McBride. “It was a well-executed play all around.”

Minutes later, Roe dribbled up the far right side and appeared to be looking for a cross as she had a difficult angle. Instead, the defender from Humble, Texas lofted a perfectly placed shot from 25 yards out to the top left corner of the net just inside the goal post for the eventual game-winner.

“Haylli did really well to join the attack on that play,” said McBride. “And she finished it in style.”

Southeastern finished the match with 16 shots to eight for Louisiana Tech. The Lady Lions also had 11 shots on goal to just three for the Lady Techsters.

Junior Mya Guillory led SLU with six shots for the match, five of them on goal. Williams and Roe each had two shots to pace Southeastern.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lady Lions against Louisiana Tech picking up their first victory over the Lady Techsters since the 2007 season.

Sunday also marked the Lady Lions’ final regular season road match of the season. Southeastern has played eight straight road matches due to Hurricane Ida’s affect on the Hammond area back on Aug. 29th. SLU’s only home match of the season thus far was an 11-0 win over Alcorn State back on Aug. 27.

“I feel like the team handled the adversity of being on the road this long well,” said McBride. “The results were pretty good as well. But we’re glad to be getting to back to Strawberry Stadium in front of our home crowd.”

The Lady Lions will return home and play their final six matches in the friendly confines of Strawberry Stadium beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. against McNeese (8-3-1, 5-1-0 Southland). The two teams met back on Sept. 12 with the Cowgirls edging the Lady Lions 1-0 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

SCORE ONE MORE CLUB/S CLUB

Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the women’s soccer program are encouraged to join the Score One More Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Score One More Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern soccer program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.

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