PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian women's soccer team scored twice in both halves of Thursday's match against North American with the two second half goals helping the Wildcats pull away for a 4-1 win over the Stallions at Wildcat Field.
Louisiana Christian (7-4-1, 4-2 RRAC) was first to the scoreboard as, in the 11
th minute,
Isabella Urbaneto sent a cross into the box and
Manoella Santos, who was making the back post run, got to the ball and knocked it into the net for the early 1-0 lead.
That lead was short-lived, however, as North American (3-7, 2-4 RRAC) was awarded a penalty kick in the 15
th minute, which was converted to pull the Stallions back level at 1-1.
LCU didn't need too long to get back in front as
Katalina Medina won the ball away from NAU at the top of the box and was able to beat the goalkeeper to the bottom left post for a 2-1 Wildcat lead. That would be the score heading into the half.
The Wildcats pulled away in the second half with a pair of goals with good build-up. In the 62
nd minute,
Maria White sent a ball over the top to Medina. Medina quickly sent in a low cross that was beyond the goalkeeper's reach and found the foot of
Izzy Childs. Childs just had the tap the ball into the open net for a 3-1 LCU lead.
In the 75
th minute, Medina put a cap on her quality night.
Emerith Hernandez sent a ball over the top which found Childs. Childs ran onto the end of the pass and quickly lifted a cross into the box which Medina got on the end of and tapped the ball into the net for her second goal of the night for the match's 4-1 final.
Medina took seven shots in the match, putting four on target while her two goals gave her nine on the season. She also had an assist in the contest.
Childs also took seven shots, putting five on frame and scoring her 10
th goal of the season and picking up an assist as well.
Santos got her first goal of the season in giving LCU its first goal of the evening. That was her lone shot of the contest.
Urbaneto took five shots with two on frame and tallied an assist.
Hernandez also had an assist on the night.
The Wildcats were efficient in the match, putting up 25 shots with 16 of them being on target.
Marta Papandrea (5-2-1) got the win in net for LCU as she played the first half and made two saves, conceding on the penalty kick, and exiting at halftime with a 2-1 lead.
Sara Mendivelso closed out the final 45 minutes by making three saves which helped secure the team victory.
LCU's goalkeepers saw 12 shots come their way from NAU attackers, six being on target.
With three matches remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats enter the final stretch in the attempt to secure the best spot possible in the Red River Athletic Conference Championship Tournament as Texas A&M Victoria comes to Pineville for a key match-up on Saturday. Kickoff of Saturday's match against the Jaguars (7-5-2, 4-1-1 RRAC) is set for 1 p.m. at Wildcat Field.
