Video by: Krishnan Collins | Sports Editor: A-State scored their third goal on Sophia Restrepo’s header late in the second half.
The Arkansas State soccer team defeated the Harding Bisons 3-0 on Tuesday night in a dominate performance by the Red Wolves.
Maggie Ertl scored in the first half before Hailey Furio and Sophia Restrepo each added a goal late in the second period.
A-State’s defense was tough to break down on the night. Freshman Hannah Maupin looked like an experienced central defender with calm play in the first half. Olivia Smith patrolled the left wing with force in the second half and Dana O’Boye provided the experience in the back.
With just over two minutes to play, Sarah Sodoma took an in-swinging corner that found the head of an on-rushing Restrepo. The header flew into the back of the net and sealed the 3-0 victory for A-State.
Just two minutes before Restrepo’s goal, the Red Wolves scored their second of the match. Annica Karlsson received the ball on the left side of the pitch and drove down the wing with pace. The Finland native fired a ball across the face of goal and the ball found its way to Furio. The sophomore calmly slotted the ball home to put the Red Wolves up 2-0.
The score could have been higher for the Red Wolves. There were many chances throughout the second half including a 1-on-1 opportunity for Sodoma. The Harding keeper came up heroic and pawed the ball away from Sodoma’s left foot.
A-State dominated the first half of the match and went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The Red Wolves got their break through in the 26th minute via a Maggie Ertl goal. A-State played some beautiful build up soccer which lead to Sarah Sodoma getting the ball at her feet. Sodoma drove down the left wing before sending it across the face of goal for Ertl who finished the easy tap-in.
The Red Wolves had an even earlier opportunity to take the lead but heroic defending from a Bison player kept the game at 0-0. Ertl earned a corner on the right side of the field and then the 2018 Sun Belt Conference assist leader whipped in a cross. Sophia Restrepo chested the ball towards goal at speed but the Harding defender on the line did her job and cleared the ball away.
A-State dominated the first 10 minutes of the game as the Red Wolves kept possession away from the Bisons. The early period of the match included a flurry of passes between the defenders in the A-State back line.
The Red Wolves got their first concrete opportunity of the match when they earned a free kick about six minutes into the game. Sodoma was foulded outside the 18 yard box and on the ensuing free kick Furio put a shot on target that was saved by the Harding keeper.
This match marked the end of A-State’s spring soccer season. The Red Wolves will return to action in the fall with the start of the regular season.
Categories: Sports
Leave a Reply