Huntsville - Two freshmen, Natalie Johnson and Emily Edenstrom, scored the goals and a senior goalkeeper Jenny Pence came up with a series of big saves to lead Sam Houston to its first ever Southland Conference regular season women's soccer victory over Stephen F. Austin Friday night at Pritchett Field.
The Bearkats won 2-1, but the lone SFA goal came on a cornerkick with just 43 seconds remaining.
In eight years of women's soccer, the Bearkats stood 1-9 against SFA coming into the contest. The only victory came in the semifinals of the 2005 Southland post-season tournament in Natchitoches, La.
The Bearkat victory combined with UTSA's first league loss of the season puts Sam Houston at the top of the Southland Conference table. With a 5-2-1 league record, SHSU possesses 15 standings points (three for each win). Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, UTSA and Stephen F. Austin -- all with four wins and a tie -- are tied in second place with 13 points each (three points for each victory and one for the tie).
Pence and the SHSU defense held the Lumberjacks scoreless for the first 89 minutes. The Bearkat goalkeeper made six saves and withstood 20 SFA shots.
Amanda Biega set up the first Bearkat goal with a steal near midfield. She flicked the ball to Johnson who lofted a shot from more than 30 yards out. The shot bounced off SFA defender Kelsey Allen's shoulder and into the goal mouth to put Sam Houston up 1-0. The goal was Johnson's fourth of the year.
Three Stephen F. Austin shots hit the cross bar and Pence stopped three more shots in the first half as Sam Houston took the one goal lead into halftime.
Three minutes into the second half, Edenstrom stole a ball just outside the right edge of the 18-yard box and lofted a ball over the head of substitute goalkeeper Lacey Lee for Edenstrom's third tally of the year.
"That second goal right at the start of halftime was a big one for us," head coach Tom Brown said. "Stephen F. Austin has an outstanding team. This is a big win for the program."
Despite continual pressure throughout the next 42 minutes, SFA couldn't score until the final 40 seconds. Camille Royer's in-swinging corner kick found Edwina Forbes for a header into the goal mouth from four yards out.
Sam Houston upped its season record to 9-8-1 for the season. Stephen F. Austin dropped to 11-5-1 for the year.
Sam Houston State has a week before they complete the regular season with matches Friday and Sunday against Texas State and UTSA, respectively.
Prior to the Friday night contest October 29, Sam Houston will host another soccer pregame tailgate party with food from McKenzie's BBQ. The tailgate is at 6 p.m. and kickoff is 7 p.m.
