CONWAY, Ark. – Celebrating the efforts and accomplishments of the seniors on Sunday, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team dominated in a 3-1 win over North Alabama. Sunday's win capped the home schedule with a 5-2-1 record at Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.
The victory improves Central Arkansas 6-7-3 on the year, with a 4-3-2 ASUN slate. Three Bears scored on the day, including a pair of goals before the 20-minute mark.
Central Arkansas wasted little time getting on the board, as
Taylor Lassiter finished her team-leading fourth goal of the year in the tenth minute. It also marked the third goal in four matches for Lassiter, who has been a driving force of the offense as of late.
On a corner kick less than 10 minutes later,
Taylor Webb dropped a ball back out to
Gabby Thies, who launched in a ball to
Kelly Van Gundy for the second goal of the match. Seemingly with all the momentum, the Bears continued to press for a third goal, but the Lions had other ideas. Developing some offense of their own, the Lions responded with a shot 18 seconds after the second goal, forcing a save by
Keyla Perez. Out into the 30
th minute, North Alabama cut the lead to one, finding a goal in the upper right of the net.
The 2-1 score would hold through the midway break, despite the Lions holding a slight edge in shots, six to five, over the Bears.
North Alabama came out of the gates looking to equalize taking multiple shots though the first ten minutes of the second half. Countering, the Bears regained control and drove back down the field. Down on the left side of the field, Van Gundy played a ball into the corner to
Amanda Walsh. Controlling the pass, Walsh lobbed in a long ball that bounced into the box to
Sydney Brough for the finish in the 64
th minute.
The teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the match, and as the clock ticked down to the final whistle, the emotions were evident in the faces of the Bears as they sent their seniors off with a win.
Central Arkansas has one more match on the horizon, playing at Florida Gulf Coast next Saturday. Kickoff against the Eagles is set for 6 p.m. CT.
