Griffin, Lady Lions Topped by Concordia
Senior Goalkeeper Credited with 20 Saves in Loss
AUSTIN, Texas -- The constant solid performance of the Southwestern Assemblies of God University's defense was not enough on Saturday at the state capital. Concordia University routed the Lady Lions, 7-0, controlling the midfield and coasting to their first win of the season.
The Lady Tornados had been shutout in their first two games by a combined 5-0 score. They managed to score the game's first goal only five minutes in and the momentum crested as they built a 5-0 advantage by intermission. C-Tex is now 1-2.
Starting the match with a high sense of urgency, Concordia seized the lead when Axita Patel sent a pass to freshman forward Taylor Franklin. She was on the left, just outside the box. She dribbled in and lifted a shot over the head of SAGU's senior goalie Tracy Griffin (Wylie, Tx / Wylie HS) for a 1-0 lead.
Chastity Carillo found a seem in the middle of the Lady Lions' defense. When she drilled a shot in the upper corner of the net, past a defenseless Griffin, SAGU was in a hole they wouldn't recover.
SAGU has scored just a pair of goals in six games, both coming in a three minute time span against Central Christian last week. The lack of offensive punch has kept the pressure on a talented defense that eventually has yielded goals.
On Saturday, C-Tex fired 35 shots, with 20 of them on goal.
Griffin made twenty saves as the minder of the store for the Purple Pride. It was the third time this season she has been called up to make twenty or more saves. The Lady Lions, meanwhile, were able to kick three shots, one of them reaching the keeper. Goalie Tyler Steinbach garnered her first shutout in 2010, though she only had to make one save to blank the 'Cats.
Next Game at Home, Sept. 18
Coach Tim Grant's team has a week to prepare for their next game. On Saturday, September 18, SAGU entertains Bethany College at 11:00am at Southwestern Field. The Lady Swedes are 1-3 in the early stages of this season, giving up 22 goals while scoring just three. Bethany was 6-11-1 last fall.
