DeLand, Fla. - Stetson Women's Soccer claimed their first conference victory Thursday night, 1-0 over West Georgia getting Head Coach
Jamie Souza his first conference win.
Lea Alexander was the goal scorer for the Hatters with
Kelly Gende and
Ava Kooker picking up the assists.
"This win has been too long coming but it's great," said Coach Souza. "This season is a journey and a story yet to be written. We had a hot start and lost our way a bit, but we have been able to bounce back."
The first half of the match showcased a chess match with both teams trying different angles of attack. Something that Coach Souza did was switch his two wingers throughout the match and that move provided several different runs.
Stetson had the edge in possession in the first half and that helped create four shots, but they couldn't cash any in for goals. The back line anchored by
Bryn Forchic limited the Wolves to just two shots and one being on net in the first half.
Stetson seemed to wear down West Georgia's legs in the first half because in the second half the Hatters exploded for 11 shots.
Georgia Place almost put Stetson in the lead but was robbed on a great save by the Wolves' keeper.
Alexander's goal came in the 74
th minute when Kooker sent a cross into the box. The cross deflected off Gende and found its way to Alexander who had a wide-open net for her fifth goal of the season.
"We went into today saying we can't leave the field without three points," said Alexander. "We wanted to get a win on our home field, turn around our mindset and get the energy back."
The Hatters continued to press trying to find a second goal but switched to a very defensive mindset with just couple of minutes left in the match. West Georgia pressed and tallied a couple shots but none on net and Stetson ran the clock out to get the 1-0 victory.
Ashleigh Wise tallied her third shutout of the season having to only make one save.
Up next for Stetson is Senior Day against Queens on Sunday, October 6. That match will kick off at 1:00pm.
