NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (nOVEMBER 3, 2008) Stephen F. Austin got a pair of first-half goals and a sterling performance in net by Courtney Bauder for a 2-0 victory over McNeese State on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both the Southland Conference foes. The victory helped send SFA’s six seniors out with a win on Senior Day and gives the Ladyjacks a four-game unbeaten streak and a full head of steam heading into this week’s SLC Tournament.
The victory moves SFA to 9-7-1 on the season and lands the Ladyjacks in a tie for second place in the SLC at 6-2-1. McNeese fell to 10-7-1 overall and 6-2-1 in league play.
The Cowgirls came into Sunday’s game alone in second place in the Southland after suffering just their first league loss of the year at Sam Houston State on Friday. But SFA played as the aggressor from the opening whistle and reaped the rewards with two early goals.
SFA got on the board in the ninth minute, when freshman Janae Lee scored her third goal of the season. The goal started with a free kick from the right corner following a McNeese State foul. Senior Jessica Cotton took the kick and chipped a high pass across the box. Lee scored from a crowd of players right in front of the left post.
Senior Amanda Alders gave the Ladyjacks a cushion with her goal in the 38th minute. She took a pass in the right-hand side of the box and dribbled across to the left. The McNeese ’keeper came out to defend, but Alders eluded her then found an opening near the left post and set a quick shot off the foot of a Cowgirl defender and into the back of the net.
The goal was Alders’ sixth of the season, tying her with Megan Cash for the team lead. It also marked the 38th career goal for Alders, who is SFA’s all-time leader. Her 91 career points are a school record, as well.
Meanwhile, McNeese State created some prime opportunities at the other end. The Cowgirls out-shot SFA, 12-5, in the opening period and had a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. For the game, McNeese held a 21-14 edge in shots and a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal, and the Cowgirls hit the crossbar twice.
But Bauder was a wall in the SFA goal. The sophomore tied her career-high with 10 saves. She teamed with her back line to shut down one of the top scoring teams in the SLC, including Kamryn Koch, the league’s leading goal scorer. With the win, Bauder improves to 9-6-1 on the season. She has recorded shutouts in each of her last four starts and hasn’t given up a goal in more than 413 minutes.
With Sunday’s win, SFA forced a three-team tie for second place in the league standings, with McNeese and UTSA making up the other two-thirds of the log jam. However, by virtue of SLC tie-breaker policy, the Ladyjacks go into this week’s tournament as the No. 4 seed, due to their loss against 2008 champion Texas State earlier this season. Both McNeese and UTSA tied their games against the Bobcats, giving them the tie-breaking edge over SFA.
McNeese will be the No. 2 seed with UTSA taking the third spot. SFA will meet No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana in the tournament’s first round on Thursday at 7 p.m. UTSA will take on No. 6 Northwestern State in the early game Thursday, set to begin at 4:30 p.m. All tournament games will be played in Lake Charles, La.
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