SMU W-Soccer Falls To Tulsa
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DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women’s soccer team fell to Tulsa, 2-1, on Thursday night at Westcott Field. Senior Olivia Elliott tallied the lone goal, her first of the season, for the Mustangs.
SMU (6-12-0, 2-6-0 The American) put pressure on the Tulsa defense in the opening minutes, creating several goal-scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes of play. In the fifth minute, Elliott, who started as a forward for the first time this season, drove in a threatening cross that skipped past the outstretched foot of a cutting Kelsey Gorney.
In the 11th minute, Elliott’s free kick from 20 yards out deflected off of the Tulsa wall and went wide right of the frame. Just a minute later, Elliott hit a shot from inside the 18, but her attempt again went wide right.
Tulsa (10-7-2, 3-4-1 The American) went ahead in the 38th minute when Christina Holmes ran onto a long ball from Lauren King. Holmes then flicked the ball over a charging Lauryn Boddenand into the back of the net. Four minutes later, a Tulsa corner kick popped out to Claire Maris, who drove a low shot just past the fingertips of Bodden and into the side netting.
The Golden Hurricane would carry the 2-0 lead into halftime, outshooting the Mustangs, 7-5, in the opening segment.
In the second half, the two squads battled in the middle of the pitch for
most of the segment, before SMU put together a late rally.
In the 84th minute, Elliott headed in a loose ball from inside the six to put the Mustangs within one. The tally was Elliott’s first of the season and came in her first start of the season as a forward. The senior came to SMU as a forward, but made the move to defense last season.
“I thought Olivia did quite well,” said Petrucelli. “She’s always wanted to play forward. This late in the season, we felt like we could run her out a little bit more.”
In the final minute, junior Lissi Lonsberry hit a shot from just outside the top of the box, but her attempt was parried by Tulsa goalkeeper Marleigh Essler. The chance then led to a corner kick with less than 30 seconds remaining, but the Tulsa defense would hold strong to pull out the 2-1 victory.
SMU and Tulsa were even in shots with ten apiece. Lonsberry led the team in shots with four and Bodden recorded three saves.
The Mustangs host Memphis on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT in their season finale. Sunday’s contest will also serve as Senior Day.
“I think more than anything, we have to send the seniors out the right way,” said Petrucelli. “I don’t know how much else we can change. I think it’s now more of energy, attitude and a little bit of belief.”
Seniors Lauryn Bodden, Rikki Clarke, Olivia Elliott, Rachael Larson and Shelby Redman will all be honored following the match. For tickets, visit SMUtickets.com.
