Box Score EUNICE, La. – No. 15 LSU Eunice used a similar recipe – defense and the timely goal – to much success as the Bengals dispatched Ranger College 2-0 on Friday at the Bengal Soccer Complex. LSUE (9-0-1) tied last year's seven-game win streak for the young program's record.
"Our team was able to show some perseverance tonight as we weren't firing on all cylinders," LSU Eunice women's head coach Ian McGimsey said. "You have to learn to win in different ways and hopefully we can take some lessons away from tonight."
After nearly half an hour of gridlock, LSUE broke through in the 28th minute.
Samaris Alvarado (Houston, TX, Klein Forest HS) started the possession with an interception at midfield, dicing through a handful of Ranger defenders. Alvarado fed a through ball to
Jazmin Torres (Conroe, TX, Conroe HS) whose cross was deflected right to
Bridgett DeLaSalle (Baton Rouge, LA, Baton Rouge Magnet HS). The freshman banged home her first goal of the season to put LSUE on the scoreboard and take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Rangers came out firing after intermission as
Mariah Scott (San Antonio, TX, Legacy of Educational Excellence HS) held up her clean sheet with six of her seven saves in the second half. Scott anchored a defense that pitched their sixth shutout of the season.
LSUE would grab an insurance goal in the 58th minute as the Bengals used a couple of crosses to help bring in the second tally.
Brianna Roberts (Conroe, TX, Oak Ridge HS) swung in a volley to the right side of the field before Torres fired in a low pass to
Maddie Sylvester (Opelousas, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS) who finished to the far, left side.
The Bengals would finish with 13 shots on the match, eight coming on target.
LSU Eunice now sets its sights on its first ever matchup between ranked opponents on Tuesday. The Bengals head to second-ranked Tyler JC on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the perennial power Apaches. The action from Pat Hartley Complex is scheduled to begin at 5:00PM.
