University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Denver
Cajuns Handed Tough Loss in Overtime, 2-1
10/1/2011 2:52:00 AM | Soccer
The Ragin' Cajuns soccer team suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss Friday night as Denver's Kristen Hamilton netted the game-winner with 1:27 left in the second overtime period to make the final 2-1 at Cajuns Soccer/Track Facility.
The Pioneers Nichiolette DiGiacomo found a streaking Hamilton for the golden goal as Hamilton avoided the Cajuns keeper to net the game-winner.
“It's disappointing to give that kind of effort and lose in the second overtime period,” head soccer coach Scot Wieland said. “They really worked hard as team tonight, and I am really proud of them. It breaks my heart to lose in overtime when they worked so hard and had chances in regulation.”
With the loss the Cajuns drop to 4-7-1 overall and 0-3-0 in conference play, while Denver improved to 9-2-0 on the year.
Maci Andrus put the Cajuns on the board in the 2nd minute. Kayla Henrie played a perfect ball forward to a streaking Andrus who beat the Pioneer keeper with a ball on the ground to give UL a 1-0 advantage.
The Pioneers evened the match at 1-all in the 13th minute when Hamilton knocked a pass from Cassidy Larson off a UL defender into the goal.
In the second half, Louisiana keeper Amanda Moorefield had a couple big saves including a stop with less than a minute remaining in regulation to send the contest into overtime.
The Cajuns just missed pulling out the win in the second overtime period when a Henrie shot hit the crossbar and sailed over the goal out of play.
Hamilton posted her second goal of the night in the 119th minute to end the contest.
“A match like this should tell the girls what we are made of,” Wieland added. “We played our tails off for 110 minutes.”
On the evening, Moorefield tallied eight saves in net as the Pioneers outshot the Ragin' Cajuns 27-5. Andrus led UL with two shots in the contest.
“Amanda has been a rock in goal all season,” Wieland said. “She missed last Sunday's game and then came back tonight and had some gorgeous saves. That's what you expect out of a captain.”
The Cajuns are back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. as they host North Texas in conference action at the Cajuns Soccer/Track Facility.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
