Soccer

Soccer team posts pair of shutouts, improves to 3-0

Midfielder Kylie Cook passes to Nichole Duarte to score the first goal of Sunday's game against McNeese State. | Courtesy of Ryan O'Toole/The Contraband

For the first time in history, the UH women’s soccer team has begun its season 3-0 by earning shutouts in each victory after squeezing by the Sam Houston State Bearkats 1-0 last Sunday, trumping the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 2-0 on Friday and rolling the McNeese State Cowgirls 6-0 on Sunday.

“It was great to see all the hard work we have put in on scoring opportunities, and more importantly turning those opportunities into goals,” coach Susan Bush said in a release. “The defense is starting to gel and we’re all getting on the same page. I’m very pleased with the two road wins we achieved this weekend and we’re all ready to get back to work on Monday to get ready for this weekend’s opponents.”

The Cougars’ 6-0 win was their largest victory since defeating Texas Southern 12-0 during the 2006 season. The Cowgirls held the Cougars scoreless for the first 42 minutes of the first half, until freshman Sami Sackos recorded her first career goal.

Senior Melanie Adelman started off the second half for the Cougars by scoring her second goal of the season at the 47-minute mark. Over the next 24 minutes the Cougars would reel off four more goals.

The Cougars were aided against the Ragin’ Cajuns by goals from freshman Nicole Duarte and junior Stephanie Derieg. Duarte’s goal was assisted on a cross by freshman Kylie Cook that she headed in. It was Cook’s second assist of the season.

Red-shirt freshman Cami Koski shined as goalie this weekend, saving all six shots aimed her way.

The Cougars will head out on the road again next weekend as they face the TCU Horned Frogs on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Baylor Bears on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Horned Frogs are 2-2, but are coming off of a 6-0 victory against Sam Houston State. TCU is led by head coach Dan Abdalla, who is in his sixth season. The Bears are 3-1 after suffering their first loss of the season, 3-1, to Arizona State Saturday. Marci Jobson coaches the Bears and is in her third season. The Cougars will follow that weekend with one more of non-conference games before beginning conference play.

Leave a Comment