Sam Houston scored early and never looked back as they picked up a first Southland win of the season, 4-1 over Incarnate Word Sunday at Pritchett Field. Junior forward Ashley Alonzo scored the Bearkats' first hat trick since 2009.
“I thought we did a good job overall. We were able to get a quick early goal and I thought that the second goal right before halftime was tough for them (UIW),” SHSU head coach Tom Brown said. “I think the possibilities have been there for a long time. I hope today has given them some confidence that they can go and score some goals. Ashley Alonzo had a great day today.”
Sophomore forward Allie Johnson got the Kats on the board first when senior defender Ashley Fluty played her in on goal with a long through ball from the back. Johnson calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net just four minutes into the match. The goal was her second of the season.
UIW nearly leveled the score when the referee awarded them a penalty kick, but the Cardinals' Megan Baker missed the spot kick wide.
Alonzo scored her first goal just before halftime when she got on the end of a pass from Maddy Panozzo and buried it in the back of the net.
The Little Elm product doubled her goal total off of a corner kick in the 72nd minute, giving the Kats a 3-1 lead. Junior midfielder Mariah Titus swung the ball into the box and Alonzo was unmarked to volley into the net.
Her third goal came from the penalty spot as she put the game away in the 79th minute.
Incarnate Word got on the board in the 58th minute, to make the score 2-1, when a deflected kick from Nikki Popa fell to her teammate Sarah Johnson who hit it past Kylie Hambleton into the goal.
Hambleton picked up her first win of the season in goal for the Kats. She was untroubled for most of the match and had to make just two saves. The Kats outshot UIW 18-6 and had seven corners to just four for the Cardinals.
“I think we fought hard today. I'm happy with the way the team played,” Hambleton said. “It felt great. We needed to get all three points at home. We have to keep up the tempo in practice and remain sharp.”
Sam Houston is now 1-1 in league play and will host McNeese State next Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. at Pritchett Field.
