RUSTON, La. – A second-half goal from newcomer
Liberty Plasek secured the third straight 1-0 start to the season for the East Texas A&M University soccer team with a 1-0 win at Grambling on Thursday evening at the Ruston Sports Complex.
The Lions picked up a win in their season opener for the third straight season which is the longest such streak in program history since winning six season openers in a row from 2007-12. Grambling won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) a year ago and played in the NCAA Tournament, the Lions are now 2-0-1 over the Tigers over the past three seasons.
Thursday's match was moved from Grambling's campus to the Ruston Sports Complex due to field conditions.
After a scoreless first half in which there was only one shot in goal, which was saved by the Tigers. The two teams combined for three shots on goal in the second half, with the long kick from Plasek (Flower Mound) being the only shot that found the back of the net. A deflected ball landed near Plasek's legs and she drilled in the kick from just inside the penalty box for the first Lion goal of the season.
In goal for the Lions,
Emmy Finlinson (Eagle Mountain, Utah) played the first 45 minutes in goal and did not see a shot on goal, while
Makayla Gonzalez (South Grand Prairie) picked up two saves in the second half. The Lions picked up their first shutout of the season after recording five a year ago.
Thursday marked the first match in the blue and gold for Finlinson and Plasek as well as
Lena Junior (Frisco – Liberty),
Lornah Wasike (Nairobi, Kenya),
Isabella Queneau (Plano East),
Allyson Reed (Cleburne),
Addison Eli (Tyler – Grace Community), and
Talya Chacon (Rowlett – Sachse).
POST MATCH INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions head back to Northeast Texas to host Oklahoma for their home opener on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/tickets.
-ETAMU-
