LAKE CHARLES – It was the first career goal of freshman Morgan Middleton that helped lift the McNeese State women's soccer team to a much needed home conference victory Friday night as the Cowgirls defeated a scrappy Incarnate Word squad, 1-0, at Cowgirl Field.
 
Friday's match gave the Cowgirls (6-7, 3-4 SLC) their first home victory since taking down Prairie View A&M back on August 25. With the edge over UIW (3-11-1, 1-5-1 SLC), McNeese bettered its position in the Southland Conference standings with only four contests left in the regular season.
 
"We all know that going down the stretch means that these points are very important to us," said McNeese head coach Scooter Savoie. "Incarnate Word was a very good team that we went up against tonight. You have to be able to get your points in these situations. We are right there in that cusp so we have to make sure we are taking care of business and avoid any losses at this point."
 
"We knew how important the points were coming into this game. I thought we did a good job playing the game in which it was presented. We did a good job of getting the goal and then protect the game and get the win."
 
The lone goal came in the 11^th minute of the match as junior midfielder Kelly Clancey delivered a cross in the box to Middleton who then fired a clean shot that rocket past the Cardinals' goalkeeper to help McNeese go up a goal. Clancey was credited with her second goal on the season.

"It was a great goal scored by Morgan (Middleton)," said Savoie. "We had talked about getting our wing players more time. The ball went out and we were hoping to get a good diagonal ball across on the cross. Morgan made the right run to circle in behind and score. We needed more wing play and that was an example of what we saw when it was executed."
 
McNeese continued to control much of the first half as it led in shots taken, 10-7, but neither team was able to find the back of the net before intermission.
 
The Cowgirl defense shined throughout the second half as UIW sent a total of 12 shots but the anchors of the backline proved to be stone cold and deflected every shot while allowing only four on goals the whole game.
 
"It was important for our team to get the shutout tonight," said Savoie. "The flow was disrupted after an injury so then the challenge became what needed to be done to stretch the other team. Sara Ortiz did a good job up top but we really felt like we were going to have to double down in the midfield."
 
"Our back three did a good job of catching them as they were trying to come through. I really felt that if we were going to win this game then it was going to be done with a sold defensive effort. I thought we played well to get the win tonight."
 
Senior goalkeeper Maggie Marks turned in her first clean sheet on the year as she recorded four saves throughout the match. She has now scored three wins between the post this season.
 
Freshman Gabi D'Alesandro paced the offense with four shots, including two on goal. Senior Michelle Petrarca and junior Bettina Brulhart followed closely with three apiece.
 
Incarnate Word led both teams in shots taken by a 19-16 margin while the Cowgirls held a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal as well as corner kicks, 4-2.
 
McNeese will be back in action on Sunday when it hosts one of its biggest matches of the season against Abilene Christian. The second-place Wildcats will make their way to Cowgirl Field for an afternoon tilt against the Pokes that is slated to kick off at 1 p.m.