Quick Start Propels Rams Over Lady Lions

SAGU falls to Texas Wesleyan in Women's Soccer

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  Going against a hungry Texas Wesleyan University team preparing for post-season play, Southwestern Assemblies of God University came up on the wrong end of a 7-0 score at Southwestern Field on a sunny, breezy Thursday afternoon.

TWU, now 11-5 overall and 5-3 in the Red River Athletic Conference, got a first half hat trick from 5'6 freshman Karissa Olson and coasted to victory. For the Lady Lions (1-15, 0-8), who had to play without senior goalie Tracy Griffin (Wylie, Tx / Wylie HS) for the first time in years, it was a case of trying to fend off a determined Lady Rams squad.

SAGU Highlights

SAGU struggled until the second half, but were already down 5-0 by intermission. While being outshot 44-3, the Purple Pride were not without several bright spots. Flor Carrillo (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) managed a shot on goal before the half when the Rams were playing outstanding defense. The best opportunity to produce a goal came early in the second half. Freshman Noelle Pugliese (Lee's Summit, Mo / Lee's Summit North HS) drilled a shot from 16 yards out, a low shot that hooked inside the post. Katy Houchin, Wesleyan's keeper, snared it to preserve the shutout. Sarah Powell (Terrell, Tx / Terrell HS) had the team's other shot.

With 5-foot-3 Kendall Murders (Bolivar, Mo / Bolivar HS) replacing Griifin between the pipes, the defense did well considering the number of shots yielded and the number of goals. Murders made several very good saves, including three blasts she caught. On one play she aggressively came out of the goal mouth to take on a defender who was wide open on her right. The Rams player was able to get the kick off quickly and had a wide open net to place the kick. Just as the ball was about to cross the goal line, junior Daniela Garcia (Tucson, Az / Rio Rico HS) appeared to head the sphere to safety.

The Rams had a golden chance to score on a through ball where one of their players had gotten past a Lions defender. One-on-one against Murders, the junior netminder charged her, and fearlessly slid down to either make a play on the ball or to make a save from point-blank range. She did both! Murders killed the play with her version of ixnay!

Southwestern improved their play after the half, and generated three cornerkicks and limited TWU to a pair of goals, both coming in the last 15 minutes. They finally got on the scoreboard after 38:43 of scoreless play since their fifth tally.

Rams K.O. Lions with Karissa Olson

Texas Wesleyan got three goals and two assists from Karissa Olson. Her last kick gave her 13 goals for the season. She scored the first just 13:40 into the game, following by her second tally at the 21:46 mark. The third was at 23:13. That's three tallies in nine minutes and twenty-seven seconds.

Jessica Watton added her 15th and a pair of assists. It was announced that Cara Lumpkin had a Rams' school record four assists. However, it was later changed to two helpers as she aided statisticians by saying she was involved in four scoring plays, but actually had two, not four assists.  Christina Zimmerman (her 3rd), Sam Greer (1st) and Jodi Blowers (2nd) also sent kicks into the netting.

Final SAGU Game Saturday, 11am

This Saturday, October 30, Southwestern closes out the 2010 season with a home match against the University of the Southwest. The Mustangs will enter the game with a 3-10 mark in all games and are now 1-7 in league contests. They earned their first RRAC win on Thursday, 2-1, over Huston-Tillotson (4-11-2, 1-6-1) in Austin. HTU edged the Lady Lions this month, 2-1, in overtime.

It will the final chance to see the Lady Lions trio of seniors; Madison Wells (Farmers Branch, Tx / R.L. Turner HS), Powell and Griffin. Well had a head injury early in the game on Thursday and did not return.

The winner of the 11:00am game will avoid the 10th place cellar in the RRAC.

The U-of-the-Southwest is from Hobbs, New Mexico. They have been shutout six times. The Phillies have scored twelve goals while allowing 71.

Southwestern has endured ten shutouts while scoring five times. Team Lioness opponents have a combined 48 goals. It should be an evenly matched contest.

Afterwards, head coach Tim Grant will serve the team with a special BBQ on the grounds next to the practice field.