September 24, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — After a close defeat in their previous outing, the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions jumped back into the win column by defeating the University of Pikeville (Ky.) Bears 4-3 in a Saturday afternoon conference clash. 

Pia Grosse got the scoring started for FHU (5-2-1, 1-1-0 MSC) after her season's third successful penalty kick found its target over the left shoulder of the Pikeville keeper at 21:23. Undeterred, the Bears answered seconds later at 21:33 when the Lady Lions could not corral the ball to clear it and it was stolen by Ariel Herter who blasted the tying goal.

Pikeville (4-5-1, 0-2-0 MSC) committed a second infraction inside the box to allow Sara Becerra to attempt a penalty kick. Her 26th-minute try was successful to put her Lady Lions up 2-1. Following the pattern of trading goals, the Bears answered with a header at 33:13 from a free kick finding its way to knot the scores at 2-2.

Becerra scored her second goal of the match by more conventional means at 35:26 when Jessica Musselman found Pia Grosse just past the center line, where Grosse found open space before passing down to Becerra. The Colombian freshman perfectly placed a chip shot over the Pikeville keeper to give FHU a halftime lead of 3-2.

After 20 minutes with no scoring in the second half, Pikeville again erased FHU's lead when a corner kick found the head of Ellie Webb to tie the match at 3-3. Despite the great offense from both sides, it was a defensive miscue that proved the game decider. At 66:44, Cameryn Kime floated a free kick into the six-yard box where an attempt to head the chance over the Pikeville goal was mistimed, and an own goal gave FHU the final score of 4-3.

In a three-save win, Brooke Latham continues to shatter her personal records by picking up her fifth victory of the season, more than her previous two seasons combined. 

Up Next

The road ahead is a tough one for the Lady Lions who prepare to face (13) Cumberland (Tenn.) University on Wednesday, September 28 before traveling to (5) Tennessee Southern on October 1. Kickoff from Lebanon is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.