Box Score Corpus Christi, Texas – Hailey Sutton scored her second goal of the season to draw a goal back for the Islanders late in the first half, but the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's soccer team was unable to convert second half chances into goals, as Nicholls defeated the hosts 2-1.
"I thought we played very well tonight," head coach Shanna Caldwell. "We need to convert our scoring chances into goals though. We came out and attacked the game early, before a couple of mistakes put us down two. Hailey hit a perfect shot into the back post upper-90. In the second half, we battled and didn't give up, but we couldn't put the goal in the net.
"Sunday, we need to remain focused," Caldwell added. "We need to keep our heads up with a quality team in Southeastern Louisiana coming to town. Several players stepped us for tonight, and we'll need them on Sunday to get a result."
The Islanders opened the game on the attack. Brooke Erdmann, starting at forward for the second consecutive game, registered the first shot on goal for the match in the fourth minute.
Two minutes later, Nanna Poulsen displayed an excellent touch, as she beat two Nicholls defenders. The Danish international rounded the goalkeeper, but her shot was cleared off the line by a Colonels defender.
Nicholls opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Lindsay Gardner split the Islanders backline after a pass from Hannah Savoie. In alone on net, Gardner finished her shot on the ground for the goal.
Islanders goalkeeper Megan Delaney threw her body in front of a Spencer Valdespino breakaway in the 30th minute, but the rebound fell to the Nicholls leading scorer, who finished from three yards.
Sutton provided a spark to A&M-Corpus Christi in the 43rd minute. The Red Oaks, Texas, native collected a loose ball in the offensive third. After beating a Colonel defender, Sutton let rip a shot from 20 yards, which curled into the top-right corner to make the game 2-1.
After the halftime break, the Islanders continued the attack. Kristin Kelley made several challenges in the midfield to maintain possession for the hosts. A Poulsen free kick in the 61st minute beat the Nicholls keeper, but deflected off the crossbar.
Sutton and Jessica Berdan recorded shots on goal late in the second half, but the Islanders could not find the back of the net.
Delaney's performance kept A&M-Corpus Christi in the match several times, including a point-blank save in the 68th minute on a Colonels breakaway. Delaney finished the game with seven saves in the match.
Poulsen led the Islanders with six shots, three on goal on the night. Sutton tallied three shots on target, in addition to her goal.
The Islanders will face Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Youth Day. The Lady Lions dropped their road match to Houston Baptist tonight, 1-0, to make their record 8-2-1 this year.
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