CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A two-goal lead with 20 minutes left was enough for the Central Arkansas women's soccer team, who held on for a 2-1 win at Austin Peay Thursday night. The Bears earn a tough road win over the Governors to stay unbeaten in ASUN matches.
The win moves Central Arkansas to 5-5-3 overall, now sitting 4-0-1 in conference games.
Trace Pavatt opened the scoring in the second half, and an own goal doomed the Governors, who couldn't muster enough of a comeback. Despite just three total goals, there were a ton of shots, with the teams combining for 33 looks at the goal.
Central Arkansas burst out of the gates, trying to take the fight right to the Austin Peay defense, earning a threatening corner kick ten minutes into the game. Although
Anna Kerr and
Nina Mazzola came up with point-blank shots, the Governor defense was able to keep the Bears off the board. Possession largely stayed in the offensive third for Central Arkansas, as the midfield controlled the corridors and the center of the field.
The Governors would try to muster offense of their own, actually matching the Bears shot for shot in the first half, but the sustained drives and possessions with multiple shots weren't there for the home team until later in the half, but
Kajsa Pruner was on top of things. With under a minute, Pavatt put one on goal, but the Austin Peay keeper handled it, sending both teams to the break scoreless.
But Pavatt wouldn't be denied long, bursting out of the gates in the second half and sprinting down the line for a ball. Dribbling into the box, she let loose on a shot from left to right, slotting it past the keeper to open the scoring. The sides continued to spray shots, and though most were off target, it seemed inevitable that someone would score again.
In the 69
th minute, that happened, but not like either team was expecting. On a cross from the Bears, an Austin Peay defender jumped to get a head on it in an attempt to prevent the ball from getting through to the collapsing offense. Instead, it glanced up and over, clearing the keeper and rolling into the left corner of the net. Now trailing by two, the Governors ramped up the intensity, determined to not get shut out.
Austin Peay battled their way up the pitch, drawing fouls and throw ins to send the ball further and further into its offensive third. Winning a corner kick with ten minutes left, the ball stayed in a dangerous place for too long, getting poked into the net to bring the score back within one.
Having smelled blood in the water, the Governors threw everything they had at the Central Arkansas defense, desperate to get one more chance to tie the game with the final ten minutes. But the Bears did a fantastic job of bending without breaking, keeping the Governors from even taking a shot before the final buzzer. As the clock struck zero, Central Arkansas claimed its second win over Austin Peay, a perfect 2-0 since the Governors joined the ASUN last season.
The Bears now turn their attention to Sunday, where Lipscomb awaits. After dismantling North Alabama, also on Thursday, the Bisons await the Bears without a blemish in ASUN play, a perfect 5-0 with zero goals allowed. But the Bears, who struggled offensively early in the season, have found an offensive rhythm since the conference season began, and hope to get a result on the road. Kickoff in Nashville is set for 1 p.m., with the top of the conference standings on the line.
