Women's soccer finally opens season with 3-1 win at Temple
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:24 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Mustangs Earn Season-Opening Win At Temple, 3-1
PHILADELPHIA (SMU) – SMU opened its 2020-21 season with a 3-1 win at Temple on Wednesday after going 494 days since the Mustangs played their last match.
"We really won twice today – we won because we got to play, which has been difficult, and then we won the game," head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "It was a hard game. Temple made it difficult for us, but we responded really well. Overall, the effort was fantastic and the limited number of players that were available all played as hard as they could."
The Mustangs (1-0-0, 1-0-0 AAC) took an early lead over the Owls (3-3-1, 1-3-1 AAC) when Jewel Boland scored the first SMU goal of the season in the 9th minute. Boland found the rebound when Alina Khan's shot was deflected by Temple's keeper and put the ball at the top of the net.
Wayny Balata increased SMU's lead to two in the 32nd minute when she found a rebound of her own. Leah Chancey took a corner kick for the Mustangs, creating the chance near the goal. SMU took its 2-0 lead into the break.
Just three minutes into the second half, Boland scored her second goal of the night, hitting the upper left hand corner off a shot from the top of the box.
"Jewel was a force and Wayny was fantastic," Petrucelli said. "Jewel imposed herself and she's so physically gifted that she can make a big difference when she plays. Wayny dominated in the midfield, kicked in a goal and was dangerous every time she went forward."
In the 85th minute, the Owls added a goal of their own to the board when keeper Samantha Estrada came out of the goal to try and make the initial save.
The Mustangs totaled nine shots during the game with six coming from Boland and one from each Balata, Khan and Abby Dermott.
Samantha Estrada, who hasn't seen the field since the 2018 season, started in goal for the Mustangs and earned the win with five saves. Including Estrada, seven of SMU's starters played all 90 minutes during the season-opening win.
Six players earned their first collegiate minutes on Wednesday: Leah Chancey, Abby Dermott, Emma Jordan, Alina Khan, Payton Doiron and Amy Skochdopole. Petrucelli noted "For their first minutes to be in a conference game, it's really unique and difficult. They didn't play their way into the season like normal."
SMU is back in action on Sunday, March 21 as the team takes on ECU for the first home match of the season at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium, starting at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Mustangs Earn Season-Opening Win At Temple, 3-1
PHILADELPHIA (SMU) – SMU opened its 2020-21 season with a 3-1 win at Temple on Wednesday after going 494 days since the Mustangs played their last match.
"We really won twice today – we won because we got to play, which has been difficult, and then we won the game," head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "It was a hard game. Temple made it difficult for us, but we responded really well. Overall, the effort was fantastic and the limited number of players that were available all played as hard as they could."
The Mustangs (1-0-0, 1-0-0 AAC) took an early lead over the Owls (3-3-1, 1-3-1 AAC) when Jewel Boland scored the first SMU goal of the season in the 9th minute. Boland found the rebound when Alina Khan's shot was deflected by Temple's keeper and put the ball at the top of the net.
Wayny Balata increased SMU's lead to two in the 32nd minute when she found a rebound of her own. Leah Chancey took a corner kick for the Mustangs, creating the chance near the goal. SMU took its 2-0 lead into the break.
Just three minutes into the second half, Boland scored her second goal of the night, hitting the upper left hand corner off a shot from the top of the box.
"Jewel was a force and Wayny was fantastic," Petrucelli said. "Jewel imposed herself and she's so physically gifted that she can make a big difference when she plays. Wayny dominated in the midfield, kicked in a goal and was dangerous every time she went forward."
In the 85th minute, the Owls added a goal of their own to the board when keeper Samantha Estrada came out of the goal to try and make the initial save.
The Mustangs totaled nine shots during the game with six coming from Boland and one from each Balata, Khan and Abby Dermott.
Samantha Estrada, who hasn't seen the field since the 2018 season, started in goal for the Mustangs and earned the win with five saves. Including Estrada, seven of SMU's starters played all 90 minutes during the season-opening win.
Six players earned their first collegiate minutes on Wednesday: Leah Chancey, Abby Dermott, Emma Jordan, Alina Khan, Payton Doiron and Amy Skochdopole. Petrucelli noted "For their first minutes to be in a conference game, it's really unique and difficult. They didn't play their way into the season like normal."
SMU is back in action on Sunday, March 21 as the team takes on ECU for the first home match of the season at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium, starting at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.