Other Sports
UCA women’s soccer leaves SEMO with 1-1 tie behind Liza Dugan’s strike
iza Dugan subbed in and scored from 30 yards 59 seconds later as the Bears tied Southeast Missouri State 1-1.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Liza Dugan didn’t need much time to make her mark.
The Central Arkansas freshman checked in during the 31st minute Sunday. Fifty-nine seconds later, she’d sent a 30-yard shot over the Southeast Missouri State goalkeeper and into the net.
That strike earned UCA women’s soccer a 1-1 draw with the Redhawks. It also wrapped up the Bears’ nonconference schedule.
UCA sits at 3-4-2 heading into league play.
It was the second goal of the year for Dugan, a defender.
She came on for sophomore defender Addison Griffey. Senior midfielder Sakiko Manabe and freshman defender Ashlyn May teamed up to set her up.
A late scramble at the goal line
Sunday’s closest call came in the final minutes.
The Redhawks threw extra bodies forward and created a pileup in the box. The ball got past senior goalkeeper Anna Kathryn Harrell.
Luckily for the Bears, a teammate was camped on the line. She kept it out, and the back line cleared it away.
That’s one way to make a goalkeeper’s heart skip a beat.
Harrell played all 90 minutes and finished with two saves.
One of those came early in the second half. SEMO opened the period with a corner kick and a shot on target, but Harrell turned it away.
UCA had its best stretch in the middle of the half. The Redhawk defense didn’t budge, though, and a winner never came.
Redhawks jumped out early
The home team wasted no time on a hot day in Cape Girardeau.
SEMO pushed deep and earned a throw-in in a threatening area. The toss went into the box, and Riley Henderson knocked it in at the 5:55 mark.
Maya Domian and Maci Hatzenbuehler picked up assists. It was Henderson’s second goal.
The Bears answered with pressure. Sophomore forward Makenna Adam and freshman midfielder Sophia Backstrom each fired shots over the next few minutes.
The Redhawks held firm for a while. Then the bench provided the answer.
Nobody scored after that, and it stayed tied at halftime.
The numbers and what’s next
SEMO outshot UCA 16-11.
The Bears had the edge in shots on goal, 5-4.
Corners were close, with the Redhawks holding a 9-8 advantage. Their goalkeeper made four saves.
The officials called 12 fouls on SEMO, while UCA was whistled for nine.
Senior Megan Moudy led the Bears with three shots. The Redhawks dropped to 1-6-3.
Now it’s time for conference play.
UCA women’s soccer opens its first United Athletic Conference season Thursday against Tarleton State.
The Bears will host that match at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.
