With a pair of goals in a seven minute period this afternoon, the Bears got the game-winner courtesy of a pair of freshman and sealed the win from a pair expected to lead the Bears this season.
The game-winner was scored by Kelsey Finders (pictured) in the 42nd minute when freshman Jennifer Hamlin sent a through ball from the left side. The ball, and the defenders difficulty keeping pace with Finders, pulled the goalkeeper out of the box. Finders won the head ball, and the foot race to the loose ball, allowing her to bury her shot into an empty net.
Coming out strong in the 2nd half with the wind at their backs, the Bears kept the pressure on. If the Bears are to achieve their offensive goals this season, the template for success was displayed with the 2nd goal. Recovering from an early attack by the Trojan’s Grace Rich, Aguilar started the play from the center circle, with a ball to the left side that was then sent forward to an overlapping Meghan Cassady. Cassady’s cross into the box was met by an on-rushing Aguilar, burying the ball into the roof of the net at the far post 4 minutes into the second half.
It was not a simple, nor easy win, as the Trojans controlled play for much of the first 25 minutes. The shift could only begin once the Bears took responsibility for the ball, and freshman Tara Bailes brought some much needed attitude to the effort when she came in around that time. Soccer can be a very simple game and it was Baile’s willingness to battle for and win the goal kicks being sent to midfield by Jackie Jasper that laid the foundation. Once they began holding onto the ball, the Bears began to dictate play.
The second step was to cut off the outlet pass to the weak side, something Arkansas utilized all evening Friday. As the Bears began to press the attack, the Trojan’s were forced to go inside in an attempt to equalize while losing an important pressure relief valve. The Bears appear to have the speed and depth on the bench this year to regularly 5-7 deep, which should allow them to continue this effort. The key will be making the runs off the ball that create the opportunities that Cassady created by going forward, a responsibility every member of the team will have.
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