Islanders Batter Bears With Two Late Tallies

CONWAY, ARK. - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pulls off a road win in dramatic fashion this Friday, after scoring two late goals against the Central Arkansas Bears. The Islanders tie a program single season record with their fifth victory in 2017, dropping hosts UCA 3-1 and keep the side in the thick of the Southland Conference standings.

The Islanders were outshot 8-3 in what would be a scrappy opening half this Friday. The visiting Islanders drew an unseemly 11 fouls in the beginning 45 minutes of play, while committing just three of their own. In a situation that normally favors the Blue and Green, the visiting side was unable to capitalize on any of their early set pieces despite scoring four of 11 goals this season with the dead ball. The Bears were able to find a goal during the 16th minute of the first, after a deflected shot fell to UCA forward Ashley Smith on the doorstep of the Blue and Green goal line for an easy finish. 

The Islanders would take the offensive straight out of the whistle in an attempt to even things before the break, as redshirt-senior Brooke Erdmann registered the first Blue and Green shot on goal of the night 30 seconds after the Central Arkansas goal. The UCA keeper would turn away the shot however, and an additional two stops through the opening half ensured a Bear lead into the half.

As has happened so frequently this season, the Islanders were all but unmatchable in the second half. HC Craig Shaw's side pounced on the Bears immediately out of the break, forcing the home team to commit their 12th foul of the match inside the 18, just a minute into play. The referee pointed for the spot kick, and was followed up superbly with a Brooke Erdmann conversion and a tied contest. Erdmann's PK tally puts the Islanders at a perfect 2-2 in penalties for the season, and places the forward in a tie for her team's lead scoring position at two goals.

After receiving a punch to the mouth to open the second, the hosting Bears began to up the pressure in attempt to get back out in front, with nine shots in the proceeding 30 minutes. Freshman goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall frustrated the UCA strikers at every turn however, making five saves over that period and seven in the second half alone. With the Bears unable to solve the young goaltender, the Islanders were given every opportunity to grab a lead of their own.

With UCA's continuous level of physical play, it would be just a matter of time before the Blue and Green would create a chance off a free kick. With less than 12 minutes remaining Erdmann created a chance with a header on frame, but was parried away by the home netminder. Freshman Addison Urbanus remained lurking inside of the 18 however, and was able to turn an available rebound into her second goal of 2017, from 12 yards out. With nine minutes ticking down on the clock, the match looked destined to end in a 2-1 victory for the Islanders, but the visiting team's offense refused to let up in the latter stages.

Playing in her first Islanders' match at the forward position, freshman Abby Deakin pocketed the first tally of her career on a screaming shot from over 20 yards out. Deakin's strike would find the hands of the UCA goalie but would be too powerfully struck for the keeper to send off course, and the Blue and Green made it 3-1 just 40 seconds after their previous goal in the 81st.

• Kyleigh Hall finished with nine saves on the night, in the freshman's second start since being lifted off redshirt. Her total ties a single-match high for any Islander netminder this year
• Erdmann's goal gives the redshirt-senior eight tallies in her time spent on the Island, the second most any Islander has scored in a single career. With 67 career appearances, Erdmann is just four caps away from setting a program record
• Friday's three goals give the Islanders 14 on the season, just three away from another single season record
• Urbanus' tally is the first game-winner of her career, the freshman is one of seven first-years to get a goal this season
• Deakin's score is her first-ever and puts the Islander freshman total at 10 on the year
• The Islanders have scored multiple goals in all five of their matches against UCA and have beaten the Bears the last two times they've played in Arkansas

Friday's 3-1 win was a big one in terms of this year's Southland Conference Championship. The Islanders now sit in a tie for seventh in the conference and are within two matches of fifth overall.

COMING UP NEXT
Corpus Christi continues its weekend road trip with a shot down to Natchitoches for a match with Northwestern State. The Demons currently sit dead last in the Southland and average over two goals allowed per match in 2017.

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