Women's soccer drops AAC opener at UConn, 2-1

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Drop First League Match To UConn, 2-1
Redman Scores Seventh Goal of 2013

Sept. 26, 2013

STORRS, Conn. (SMU) - The SMU Mustangs received a goal from Shelby Redman, but could not overcome 28 shots from Connecticut as they fell 2-1 in Storrs, Conn., on Thursday.

SMU falls to 5-4-0 (0-1-0 American) and UConn improves to 7-4-0 (1-0-0) overall.

Redman tied the game for the Mustangs in the 12th minute, gathering a rebound off a shot from Kelsey Gorney and finding the back of the net to make the score 1-1. The marker was an immediate answer to an eighth-minute Huskies goal, restoring equal momentum to each side.

The two squads played 30 minutes of scoreless soccer before Julie Hubbard tallied her second goal of the year for the Huskies in the 42nd minute. Hubbard made a move and struck from 25 yards out to give UConn the 2-1 lead.

SMU made a goalie change at halftime, switching to Lauryn Bodden for the final frame. Bodden went on to record six saves in the second half, keeping SMU in contention for a positive result. SMU applied heavy pressure and maintained an offensive attack over the final 15 minutes, including earning back-to-back corner kicks in the 84th minute. Rikki Clarke got a touch on the ball after the second corner, but was unable to control the shot and sent it over the crossbar.

"I thought we played better in the second half," Head Coach Chris Petrucelli said. "We were tentative in the first half."

Redman's goal was the 18th of her career, tying her for 18th all-time at SMU with Laura Snyder.

Petrucelli has confidence that his team can keep improving and that their effort will remain at a high level.

"I think we'll come out and play hard," Petrucelli said of the Mustangs leading into their next match. "We'll respond well; we always have when things haven't gone our way. It's encouraging that we keep finding ways to score goals. We're not far off, but we need to get over the hump."

SMU will visit Philadelphia on Sunday for a meeting with Temple. The match is slated to begin at 12 p.m. CT.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Pretty accurate quotes from CP. I'm sure he and the team are pretty frustrated after tonight.

The second half really was a much better showing for SMU than the first half.

Hopefully we bounce back in a big way Sunday at Temple!

Go Ponies!