Soccer Completes Weekend Sweep
Both the men's and women's teams go 2-0 on the last weekend before GSC play begins
After entering the weekend at 0-1 following a 5-0 loss to #15 Columbus State, Lady Choctaw soccer bounced back in a big way with a pair of wins over the weekend. The men also picked up a pair of wins this weekend on the road in Arkansas to remain undefeated.
After losing in Columbus, Georgia to 15th-ranked Columbus State, the Lady Choctaws returned home this past weekend needing a win. Their first opportunity was against the Fighting Knights of Lynn University. They bounced back immediately with a dominant 3-0 win.
The Lady Choctaws dominated the shots on goal, 15-4, and three different Lady Choctaws scored. Avery Hederman scored her second goal of the season on a penalty kick, Erin Hederman picked up her first of the season, and Kathryn Knuth scored the final goal of the game in the 75th minute. Anna Wes Driskell saved all four of the Fighting Knights’ shots on goal in her first start.
The Lady Choctaws would then face off with Palm Beach Atlantic University in a Sunday morning contest. In another dominant performance, the Lady Choctaws destroyed the Sailfish 5-0. Erin Hederman and Kaylee Foster scored a pair of goals each, and Beatrice Currie picked up one as well. Hederman’s first goal was the only one of the first half before they exploded for four more in the second. This time, Sara Maleski was the one standing out in goal as she also recorded four saves and a clean sheet on the day. These two wins improved the Lady Choctaws’ overall record to 3-1.
For the men, their first win of the weekend came at Harding in a 1-0 contest. The only goal on the day was scored by Noah Wagner on a free kick in the 15th minute set up by a foul drawn by Zach Diallo. The Choctaws lead in both shots, 19-9, and shots on goal 10-2. Despite playing the final 20 minutes a man down due t a red card given to Luke Fanstone, the Choctaws recorded their second shutout in as many games and escaped with the win.
They remained undefeated in their Sunday match-up with Ouachita Baptist, getting the 3-1 win. Felix Ewald scored the game's first goal with a header in the 30th minute. Zach Diallo then made it 2-0 early in the second half off of a PK. The Choctaws would then extend their lead once again off of a Jayce Dotson goal in the 51st minute. Ouachita Baptist would add a goal of their own off of a PK but the Choctaws would hold on for the win.
After their undefeated weekends, both teams will return home next weekend to start Gulf South Conference play. On Friday, September 9, both teams will face off against the Warhawks of Auburn-Montgomery with the women playing at 1:00 p.m. and the men playing at 3:30 p.m. They will both resume play on Sunday, September 11, against Montevallo.