Trojans' Season Comes to a Close in the Semifinals

FOLEY, Ala. – Little Rock's chase for a championship fell short after South Alabama defeated the Trojans 4-0 in Friday evening's semifinal matchup in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Little Rock (9-9-3) struggled to find possession in its attacking half for most of the first half only being able to create one chance towards net. South Alabama (13-5-1) were able to grab an early lead as the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Rio Hardy, took on a Trojan defender in the box and earned a penalty kick in the 10^th minute. Hardy would take the penalty strike and Megan Swanson nearly got a hand to it but it was shot too far into the side net and put the Jags up 1-0.
 
South Alabama struck quick in the first minute of the second half with a cross from Hardy that found the feet of Kory Dixon. She grazed the ball into the to put the Jags up 2-0. Moments later the Jags marched down quickly to nearly score again hitting the crossbar off an open look.
 
Dixon would strike again on the counter attack from a Little Rock corner. The ball would bounce towards Dixon as she flicked it past to Trojans defender near the half line and using her speed to burst down the field. With only Swanson to beat, Dixon slid the ball into side netting to put the Jaguars up 3-0 in the 57^th minute.
 
Little Rock's chances continued to dwindle as South Alabama proved why they were the number one seed entering the tournament. The Jags capped off the game with a fourth goal in the 84^th minute to solidify the victory and leaving the Trojans' season at an end.
 
Little Rock ended its season at 9-9-3 record overall with a 4-4-2 conference record. The Trojans made the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for its fifth straight year and reached the semifinal round for their second straight year. All with Adrian Blewitt at the Helm. And for its tenth year in a row, the Trojans earned the United Soccer Coaches' Team Academic Award.
 
The Trojans' future looks bright as they return all but three players for next year's season including first team honorees Doro Greulich and Arola Aparicio Gili as well as second team honoree, Liesa Seifert. Seniors Quin Wilkes, Lisa Ryan, and Fali Garuba saw their Little Rock careers come to a close.
 
Wilkes ended her four-year career playing in 78 games total and starting in 66 of them. She played over 5,400 minutes for the Trojans and tallied 20 goals for her career and 12 assists. She also earned the honors of 2^nd team All-Conference for the Sun Belt in 2016.
 
Lisa Ryan came in as a transfer from Franklin Pierce University and proved to be a stout defender for the Trojans. She played in 38 games in her two-year career and started in 31 of those games. She was able to get two goals this season and played in over 2,600 minutes for Little Rock.
 
Garuba also had a four-year career at Little Rock playing in 75 games and starting in 45 of them. Her freshman year, she earned second team All-Conference for the Sun Belt scoring nine goals and assisting five. She ended her career with a total of 18 goals and 11 assists while also playing in over 4,100 minutes.