HENDERSON — In the first soccer doubleheader of the season the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions opened Saturday against the Midway (Ky.) University Eagles. Every FHU goal was answered until a successful penalty kick at 87:37 ended the match with a 3-2 defeat.
The Lady Lions (0-7-1) opened the match promisingly enough with
Isabel Croke finding
Ellie Wood for the first time at 13:38. A through pass from Croke allowed Wood to gather before the Englishwoman struck with her left boot to take a 1-0 lead. Midway answered in the 37th minute when a long shot drifted just over the keeper's shoulder to level the score at intermission 1-1.
The Croke-Wood express struck again at 54:16 when Wood managed to stay onside long enough for Croke to thread a pass through the defense where Wood was able to find herself one-on-one with the keeper to bury her second goal of the match. A free kick at 74:29 was misplayed in the penalty area and a Midway (2-0-1) striker netted the equalizer. A flurry of Eagles shots in the final minutes had an FHU team desperately trying to clear; however, in the 88th minute a foul was committed in the box to set up a penalty shot. The successful kick broke the tie to set up a 3-2 final.
Ellie Wood had several opportunities in addition to her brace, firing nine shots with four of those being on target.
Avery Branch make 11 saves in the decision.
Â
Up Next
FHU will battle Central Baptist (Ark.) College on September 16 before opening MSC play against No. 18 Campbellsville on September 20.
