Trojans Clinch SBC Tourney Berth With Win vs. Eagles

LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan soccer team clinched its fourth straight berth in the Sun Belt Tournament with a 3-0 victory over Georgia Southern at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex on Friday night.
 
Besides clinching a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament, the Trojans also guaranteed themselves a finish no worse than the league's No. 4 seed. Last year, Little Rock set a program record by finishing with the No. 5 seed, then the highest-ever seed in team history.
 
Arola Aparicio and Sairra Tucker scored first-half goals to give Little Rock (10-6-1, 5-3-0 Sun Belt) its victory over Georgia Southern (5-10-1, 2-7-0). Sara Small made four saves in recording the win and her fifth shutout of the season.
 
Aparicio struck in the 11th minute off a great long pass from the midfield by Mikayla Uyokpeyi. Aparicio tipped the bouncing pass over the goalkeeper's head to make it 1-0 Little Rock.
 
In the 37th minute, Tucker made it 2-0 as Caitlyn Eddy took a corner kick from the left side. The ball bounced off multiple players before it found itself at Tucker's feet for the finish.
 
Late in the game, Caitlyn Eddy bumped the score to 3-0 when Shannon Shields ran down the left side of the field and crossed the ball into the box for Fali Garuba. Garuba one-touched the ball backward to a wide open Eddy, and Eddy finished with ease to cap the Trojan scoring.

Little Rock outshot Georgia Southern 17-8 on the match and 9-4 in shots on goal.
 
The Trojans will finish their Sun Belt regular season and play their final home game of 2016 on Sunday when they host Troy at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex. A win would guarantee the Trojans the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.