SAGU roars during 7-0 score-fest

Garcia, Pena, Pugliese each score twice

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- Three players booted in a pair of goals apiece as Southwestern Assemblies of God University thumped Dallas Christian College, 7-0, in women’s soccer action on Saturday.

It was the first career win for new Head Coach Mandy Fortner. The team’s vigorous off-season conditioning was evident in temperatures that reached 107 on the pitch at Lions Pride Park. The Cats missed numerous opportunities to score in the first half and, despite dominating play, were scoreless against the visiting Crusaders late in the first half.

Coach Fortner, who awarded 5-foot-8 freshman goalie Brooke Burger (Kenosha, Wisc / Valley Center HS) with the start, then made a strategic move that energized the offense. She inserted Haley Shingleton (Pasadena, Tx / Deer Park HS), who has played well between the pipes in the first three games, on the front line. Moments later the move paid dividends.

Shingleton took a pass from co-captain Ashley Nerat (Menomonee Falls, Wisc / Menomonee Falls HS) and sent a low shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute of action.

While the Lady ‘Saders fought valiantly in the heat, they faded as SAGU began finishing scoring bids that had gone amiss in the first stanza.

Six second half goals broke the game open during 33 shots the Lady Lions peppered at a pair of goalkeepers.

Shingleton tacked on another tally to make it 5-0 in the 69th minute. Meanwhile, Burger was pitching a shutout with help from co-captain Jessica Powell (Terrell, Tx / Terrell HS) and other defenders, including Kendall Murders (Bolivar, Mo / Bolivar HS).

The standouts on offense were a pair of veterans. Senior Daniella Garcia (Tucson, Az / Rio Rico HS) and junior Natalie Pena (Dallas, Tx / Union HS, Tulsa, Ok) combined to score three goals and contribute four assists. Pena (pain-ya) kicked in an eight-yarder after a Garcia helper for a 3-0 advantage.

Noelle Pugliese (Lee’s Summit, Mo / Lee’s Summit North HS), a smooth sophomore, sandwiched Pena’s goal with two of her own. Pugliese (Pug-lees) was due after narrowly missing three bids before the half. Garcia, who assisted scores by Pena, Pugliese and Shingleton, extended the lead to 6-0 in the 80th minute. Nerat (NAIR-et) set her up with a pass and she beat the keeper with a swift strike.

The 'net parade' ended less than a minute later. Pena ‘delivered the pain’ and a 7-0 margin at 80:20. Amy Lambdin (Stockton, Cal / Elliot Christian), a freshman forward, sent a pass to her, and Pena moved in, faked one way and tapped in the last blast. She finished with two goals and one assist, while Garcia registered a goal and three assists.

Southwestern, now 1-2, plays at Southwestern Christian University on Tuesday, August 30. The squad’s next home game is on Labor Day Monday against Arkansas’ Central Baptist College at 11am.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 469-658-2847.