Aug. 22, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - On an emotional night for the Texas Tech soccer program as the team opened up play at the brand new John Walker Soccer Complex, the Lamar women's soccer team lost the season opener, 4-0, Friday night in west Texas.
"We played well but let in a goal late in the first half and a couple towards the end of the game when we tired a bit," head coach Dewi Hardman said. "But despite those, we had some good opportunities and I was fairly encouraged by how hard the team worked."
The Cardinals fell behind early when Zhaleh Rezaie's shot ricocheted off the left post and into the goal in the 10th minute. The Red Raiders added an insurance goal near the end of the half as Sarabeth Clopton scored on a corner kick feed from Shannon Sims with just under 2:00 on the clock lifting Tech to a 2-0 halftime edge.
Tech held a 14-0 edge in shots in the first 45 minutes thanks to a strong wind at its back.
Lamar got a couple of shots off in the second half with its best scoring opportunity coming midway through the period when senior forward Aline Pugliesi's shot from six yards out went just wide of the goal. The Cardinals were outshot 10-2 in the second half.
Tech's Brittney Harrison scored the both of the second-half goals with both coming in the last 10 minutes.
But regardless of the final outcome, Hardman saw some things that impressed him.
"We had a hard time attacking because they (Tech) are very physical team. In the second half when we started playing with the wind we did a good job of attacking, and with our organization defensively we were able to press offensively as well.
"I am encouraged by the work ethic and determination to fight," he added. "We want results but we are young. We only had two upperclassmen in the starting lineup, so for us to come out and fight as well as we did against a more physical team that's a testament to the fight the kids are showing."
Junior goalie Jessica Winters played the entire game and had six saves.
Lamar will return to action next weekend when it faces Grambling State and Louisiana-Monroe as part of the McNeese State Soccer Tournament. Friday's 5:30 p.m. match against GSU will be played at the Ward 3 Sports Complex - site of the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament - and Sunday's 11 a.m. game with ULM will be contested at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex on the McNeese campus.
