CONWAY, Ark. – Another day, another tightly contested game for the Central Arkansas women's soccer team. This time, the Bears pulled off a 1-0 win over the Nevada Wolf Pack, scoring early in the second half before holding on for the win.
The Bears improved to 3-3-1 on the season with the win, and are 3-1 at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex, with a three-game winning streak at home after Thursday's victory.
Caroline Billings notched the goal in the win.
Both sides made pushes in the early goings of the match, with the Wolf Pack holding a slight advantage in possession, using their length and athleticism to give the Bears fits over the first 15 minutes. But try as they might, the visitors couldn't break through, taking three shots in the first 20 minutes and coming up empty.
Once the Bears got comfortable with the team on the other side of the pitch, the game settled into a battle in the midfield. Both sides looked for opportunities, but through balls and long passes were just not having much success in the first half.
Jama Akpanudo put a good look on frame near the 30 minute mark, but the Nevada keeper stayed in front. Nevada threatened one more time late in the first half, but the Bears survived, sending the teams to halftime scoreless.
After making a couple of adjustments at halftime, the Bears went right to work and found immediate success. Just three minutes into the final 45, Billings collected the ball deep in enemy territory. She flicked a pass up to Akpanudo, who dished it right back to Billings, and the senior forward smashed it home to give her team a 1-0 lead. It was Billings' fourth goal of the season, and likewise, Akpanudo's fourth assist on the year.
In a 1-0 match with still 40 minutes left to play, both sides felt like they needed to ramp up the intensity: Nevada, obviously now trailing, but even for Central Arkansas, a 1-0 lead can be deceiving if a team becomes complacent. But the Bears were anything but, looking to either possess the ball in the home third of the field, or send it forward to try and extend the lead. The defense, notedly
Brooke Cross and
Rylee Reisdorph, locked down the Wolf Pack offense, stifling attacks before they began, or running down attackers before crosses could be sent into the box.
As time ran down, Nevada continued to send the ball forward, adding an attacker in the final part of the field to try and equalize. Central Arkansas answered with another defender sliding back, and the Bears were able to hold off the final few attacks from the visitors, capturing a third shutout on the season.
Hanna Hargrave made four saves in the win, adding a third clean sheet to her season.
The Bears get another big test on Sunday, heading up to Oklahoma State to take on the Cowgirls in one of the final non-conference matches. Kickoff in Stillwater is set for 1 p.m.
