Two Seniors Score in 5-0 Win on Senior Night

LITTLE ROCK – Two seniors scored on Senior Night as the Trojan soccer team defeated Sam Houston State 5-0 at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex on Saturday night.
 
Defender Lisa Ryan got her first career goal for Little Rock (3-2-0), Fali Garuba notched a header goal and Jaclyn Purvine also put home a goal from a tight angle all in the first half. Doro Greulich and Talia Graves then added a scores in the second half.
 
Saturday's game marked the most goals scored by the Trojans since a 6-2 win over UAPB in August 2016.
 
Megan Swanson made five saves and got her third win of the season while playing 68 minutes. Kate Hamilton played the final 22 minutes in goal and got her first career save in her first college appearance.
 
Ryan got her goal in the fourth minute, getting the Trojans off to a fast start. The senior blasted a long free kick from her own defensive half of the field, and the ball bounced in the penalty box. Teammate Doro Greulich went up for a header to tip the ball in off the bounce, but the ball kept rising over her head and over the goalie's outstretched arms into the net.
 
Garuba's goal came in the 21st minute off a long pass from Nora Hellmers. Hellmers delivered the ball perfectly into the penalty area, and Garuba went up for the ball, beating the goalie to it and knocking it into the net.
 
In the 33rd minute, Purvine made it 3-0 with a great individual run down the left side. With a defender on her, Purvine sped past the Bearkat player near the end line, cut in toward goal and took a tough-angle shot. The ball flicked off a defender's head and angled its way into the side of the net to give the Trojans a three-goal advantage.
 
In the second half, Little Rock got on the board when freshman Morgan Smocovich ran down the left side of the field and centered a ball to Arola Aparicio. Aparicio took a quick shot that was saved by the Bearkats' Christina Hendershot, but Greulich was right in front for the rebound and the putaway.
 
Graves also capitalized on a goalie rebound in the 78th minute for her goal. Little Rock booted the ball into the penalty box from distance, and Hendershot fumbled her attempt at picking up the ball. Graves was right next to her and scooped up the loose ball, banging it home for the 5-0 lead.
 
Little Rock finished the game with a 20-11 edge in shots and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Trojans are on the road for their next two games, heading to Murray State on Friday for a 3 p.m. game against the Racers. Little Rock will then face Austin Peay on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Clarksville, Tenn.