DeLAND—Mara Keomanivane scored on a penalty kick and Kahri Smith made 12 saves as Stetson battled USF to a 1-1 draw in the exhibition opener for both teams, Friday at the Athletic Training Center. The teams played three, 30-minute periods as part of their preparations for the 2015 regular season.
Playing the first of their two exhibitions, a young Hatters team battled a more experience Bulls squad, one which advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. Stetson head coach Manoj Khettry was pleased with the Hatters' overall effort.
“When you have 16 underclassmen you have to get them prepared for the season,” said Khettry. “And we started that process tonight. You have to help them find their roles, and we are starting to define those roles.”
USF scored the game's first goal, when Olivia Chance found the back of the net in the 13th minute. She scored off an assist from Leticia Skeete.
Keomanivane scored the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 40th minute. Stetson received the opportunity when USF goalkeeper Kat Elliott took down Riana Metzger in the box after Metzger rushed the keeper and took the ball off her feet.
The match remained tied the rest of the way.
Smith helped keep the Hatters in it, making several spectacular saves along the way. Khettry was pleased with the play of his sophomore, especially after she played sparingly a year ago.
“She's really developed since last year,” said Khettry. “I think her ceiling is pretty high. I thought she was excellent. Our players have a lot of confidence in her. When she plays the way she does today, she's going to earn even more confidence.”
The Hatters close their exhibition season when they host Miami, 1 p.m., Sunday.
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