Box Score YouTube: Coach Blewitt Interview |
Shannon Shields InterviewLITTLE ROCK – A rowdy crowd for the Little Rock soccer team's home opener saw a spirited performance from the Trojans on Friday night as the team defeated Murray State 2-1 on a pair of skillful goals.
In front of more than 700 fans at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex,
Caitlyn Eddy and
Shannon Shields put home goals for Little Rock (2-1) to hand Murray State (1-1) its first loss of the year.
"The fans were absolutely huge tonight," Coach
Adrian Blewitt said. "This is the atmosphere that we've been searching for for a while. The Maroon Mob was out behind us. … Sometimes in a tight game like this where it can go either way, the extra support acts as a 12th man."
Shields' goal proved to be the game-winner, coming in the 54th minute after Murray State tied the contest late in the first half. The Trojans were threatening in the offensive zone, and the ball was played back out to
Hali Long. Far from the goal and off to the right, Long looped a long pass to the left side of the penalty box. Taking the ball off one bounce, Shields ripped it past Racers goalie Shelby Haworth.
"I saw a path, and I took the path that I needed to take," Shields said. "I had been struggling a little bit with finishing, but I think I finally found my mojo and I think the goals will just keep coming now."
The Trojans' first goal may have been even more impressive as Eddy struck a corner kick perfectly to provide a 1-0 edge in the fifth minute.
Taking the corner from the left side of the net, Eddy didn't need any help from her teammates as the curving ball floated down into the top right corner of the net without being touched.
"That never happens," Shields said. "I think you could go to a million soccer games and you'll probably see that once. That early goal boosted our confidence even more."
"It's not something that you try to do on purpose," Blewitt said. "She strikes a really, really good ball. With a corner kick you hope to put the ball in a dangerous area, and she definitely did that."
The teams played a fairly even game after that, but Murray State was able to tie things up in the 40th minute. The Trojans made a mistake in the defensive third, turning the ball over to the Racers' Marissa Burroughs. With fresh legs off the bench and no one but Little Rock goalie
Sara Small in front of her, Burroughs dribbled around a diving Small and buried the ball for the tying goal.
But 15 minutes after that, Shields hit scored her goal and the Trojans held on for the victory.
"She took it first time on that half-volley," Blewitt said. "It was a great finish. She's been a really good addition for us, and she's going to score some goals."
The win was Little Rock's eighth consecutive home victory over a non-conference win and the team's third straight victory in a home opener. The Trojans are now 4-1-1 all-time against Murray State.
At halftime, Small had three saves to Haworth's one, but the Little Rock defensive line of Long,
Bailey Fithian and
Nora Hellmers played a strong second half and prevented the Racers from taking another shot on goal. At the end of the night, the Trojans had taken 18 shots to Murray State's seven and had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Little Rock's road only gets harder from here, as the team heads to Norman, Okla., for a battle with the Sooners on Sunday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
