Trojans Knock Off Reigning Sun Belt Champions

LITTLE ROCK- The Trojans knocked off reigning Sun Belt champions South Alabama with a late game-winning goal from Arola Aparicio Gili at the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex. Head Coach Mark Foster won his first matchup with the team he previously coached.
 
"Obviously the win is fantastic," Foster said. "The reality is that we have played better than that and lost. The second half we struggled for energy and struggled to get going. I think both teams struggled with the heat in the second half. It was a tight game that we thought could finish in a draw. But we told the girls to make the runs when they're tired and they did that today and they got their rewards. I'm delighted for the girls."
 
The winning moment came in the 87^th minute when Morgan Smocovich launched a long ball to Aparicio Gili. The Spanish forward was quick with her attack as she took a touch that brought her around the keeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net to seal the win and the three points for Little Rock.
 
The Trojans dominated early in the first half as they got on the board early through Doro Greulich. Impressive build up play and a well-timed pass from Jaclyn Purvine set up Greulich for a powerful strike into the top left-hand corner of the net to make the score 1-0.
 
Little Rock threatened again in the 16^th minute when Greulich held off some Jaguar defenders and fired a left-footed shot to the keeper's left side but South Alabama's Justice Stanford was equal to it.
 
Just before halftime, the Jaguars managed to score an equalizer. Brenna McPartlan fired a long-range effort on goal and Sara Johannsdottir was quick to make the save, but Morgan Cross was the first player to the rebounded ball in the box as she leveled the score at 1-1.
 
Greulich had yet another opportunity to give the Trojans the lead shortly after halftime but she was unlucky as the ball struck the crossbar.
 
Liesa Seifert, Samantha Rolka and Bergros Asgeirsdottir were excellent in the defense. The trio played all 90 minutes and held strong against the offensive juggernaut of South Alabama. The defenders were instrumental as the Trojans held on the dying minutes of the match to preserve the win.
 
Little Rock will travel to Lafayette, La. Oct. 12 to take on Louisiana-Lafayette before returning to the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex for a matchup with rival Arkansas State on Oct. 14.
 
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