Kendra Madaras-Kelly scored the first of SOU's four goals.
SOU stops slide with 4-1 win over Evergreen
SOU Sports Information
MEDFORD – If the Southern Oregon University women’s soccer team was beginning to have doubts about itself, Thursday afternoon’s 4-1 win over Evergreen State in the Cascade Conference opener should serve as a figurative equalizer.
The Raiders (2-6 overall) scored as many times at U.S. Cellular Field as they had in their previous five outings combined to stop a six-game slide. The Geoducks, who have lost seven straight against SOU, fell to 2-6.
Jacquie Galvez converted a penalty kick in the 27
th minute that put the Raiders up for good, and goals by Presley Lambert and Kelsey Randall on assists from Galvez and Allyson Ward put the game away in the first three minutes of the second half.
“A lot of the pieces of the game we’ve been working on came together today,” SOU coach Jenni Rosenberg said. “It was a nice start for us.”
Kendra Madaras-Kelly got the Raiders going in the 10
th minute with a score, benefitting from a defensive deflection that left her with the ball and some room from straight on and just inside the box.
Rayna Rain tied it for the Geoducks 13 minutes later. Jasmine Berlin’s pass downfield drew Kylie Moltzen out of the goal and first touched Amy Bromley, who gave it to Rain for a clear shot from about eight yards out.
Galvez was awarded the penalty kick after an SOU corner kick resulted in some contact and a fallen Raider, and she finessed it to keeper Kyla Kitts’ right and just out of her reach.
The Raiders started fast after the break, first working the ball around the goal from Galvez to Lambert 10 yards deep just two minutes into the half. Ward’s through-pass sent from midfield hit Randall in stride less than a minute later, as Kitts came out of goal and gave Randall an opening for a 15-yard shot from right to left.
SOU totaled 17 shots in the match, easily a season-high, and put seven on goal. Evergreen had nine shots with four on goal.
Galvez, Lambert and Madaras-Kelly all joined Megan McArthur with their second scores of the season.
SOU hosts Northwest University at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The site of that contest will be announced Friday.