Late PK leads SHSU to 3-2 win vs. Houston
8/13/2016 12:17:00 AM | Soccer
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State soccer's exhibition on Friday against Houston may mean little in the long run. It may also be a match that catapults the program as they ready to spend most of its first month on the road.
The Bearkats jumped out to a two-goal advantage before seeing their lead vanish. That changed on a Micaela Birt penalty kick, match-winning goal with just over one minute remaining for a 3-2 victory at Pritchett Field.
“We're going to talk about the most important things which are competing and them getting fitness,” head coach Tom Brown said. “Everyone would be a liar if they said they didn't want to come here and win a game. I just think that helps their outlook that the past nine days have led to a positive outcome.”
While Birt provided the winner, it was Meredith Carlson who gave Sam Houston an early lead. Two minutes in, the Bearkats took advantage of their first opportunity on the attack as Beryl Smith crossed a ball into Madison Cannon from the left flank. After the ball bounced off a defender, it found Meredith Carlson who sent a liner into the bottom left corner of the net.
In the eighth minute, Carlson added another, using a ricocheted ball centered in from Cannon in the right side of the box to power a shot into the right side of the net.
“She's a very technical player and that's why we wanted to put her in besides Beryl,” Brown said. “Meredith has great composure. With both of those goals, it wasn't her coming in slamming them in with pressure. She's such a calm player. I think she's improved quite a bit from last year.”
Houston saw its first opportunity 10 minutes in, taking advantage of an open opportunity in front of the box to cut the deficit in half. A second Cougars opportunity resulted in a near miss 17 minutes in, thanks to a Maddie Gangi header in front of the net to force a corner.
Twenty minutes in, it was another corner that nearly led to a second Cougars goal but Cannon stepped in front of a line-drive shot on the left side of the net, sending the ball sailing high.
“It's nice to be able to get out and have an opportunity to play against another team,” Brown said. “It raises the intensity and the competitiveness of what's going on. It gives us a chance to look back at the video to see what we make sure we correct before Alabama next week.”
Seven minutes into the second half, the Cougars continued their offensive aggression, evening the match at 2-2. Entering in the second half, Sam Houston goalkeeper Bailey Swain prevented further damage in the 24th minute, countering a 1-on-1 opportunity with a nice save on a ball headed right underneath her.
The Bearkats' next opportunity came two minutes later as Bailey Swain was set up for a penalty kick just out front of the box but sent the shot just high.
“For the most part, no player went more than 45 minutes,” Brown said. “We started a group in the first half and second half while making a few subs within that. We wanted to see how some players played together.”
With 13 minutes remaining, Maddy Panozzo secured a pass running down the right flank, centering a ball in front of the net that was deflected at the last moment to avoid a Sam Houston advantage.
Approaching two minutes remaining, Hayden Oswalt was fouled and taken down in the right side of the box, prompting the winning free kick from Birt.
Sam Houston opens the regular season next Friday at Alabama on the SEC Network Plus. First touch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Two days later, the program returns to open home action against UTSA at 6:30 p.m.
“We've just got to get a little better tactical understanding,” Brown said. “Then from an attacking standpoint, finding the right players that can play together and help us keep the ball. We do want to keep the ball and knock it around. We don't just want to smash balls, get behind and great havoc.”
