LAKE CHARLES – Recovering from a shutout loss on Friday, the McNeese women's soccer team (8-3-1, 4-1) posted a shutout of its own today, defeating Sam Houston State (4-6, 1-4) 1-0. Both teams put on a show for our Kids Day, celebrating youth soccer month , until the Cowgirls were able to score in the 88^th minute of play.
 
Sunday's solo goal was netted by senior Savannah LaRicci, who was assisted by junior midfielder Morgan Middleton, who was able to get one off her foot into the box for LaRicci to send into the back of the net. The goal was LaRicci's sixth of the season and her fourth game-winner, while the assist was Middleton's first on the year and certainly not her last.

LaRicci talks about Sunday's victory, "We fought the full 90 minutes and never gave up on our momentum. After today's win, we are in a really good standing in the conference rankings and it's time to put our focus on the next game."
 
The Cowgirls offensively dominated the contest, with 18 total shots and eight on goal. The first period seemed like an even match with neither team netting a goal in the first 45 minutes. After the half, McNeese returned to the pitch with a new view, shutting down the Sam Houston defense and upping the ante on its own. In the second period, the Cowgirls outshot the Bearkats 10-3, allowing only one shot on goal. "I thought the second half, we were really able  to control the game and it was great to finally break-through in the 88^th minute," head coach Drew Fitzgerald says.
 
Sam Houston defended McNeese well in the first half, pressing the offense, and causing no corners for the Cowgirl offense to benefit from. The Bearkats were led by sophomore forward Taylor Pritchard, who claimed two of the team's three shots on goal.
 
"Sam Houston made it very difficult to break them down. They were good about getting numbers behind the ball which really challenged our creativity," Fitzgerald said.
 
LaRicci ran top of the pack once again, taking five shots and three on the Bearkat keeper. Sixth other Cowgirls managed to get a foot on the ball today, including Kayla Goedicke (4), Gabi D'Alesandro (3), Nola Prickett (2), Anna Watson (2), Rachel Palet (1), and Alexis Miller (1).
 
Roccaforte adds another win to her stats, sitting her at 6-2 on the year and adds another shutout to her resume as well, her fifth of the year. The freshman has now faced 84 shots, averaging only .46 goals allowed per game.
 
The Cowgirl defense was anchored down by Nikki Schaaf and Sarah Clayton, who defended their line for all 90 minutes in the heat. Schaaf and Clayton have a combined 2,137 minutes on the pitch and are responsible for directing a defense that has allowed only five goals through 12 match-ups.
 
"Our players do such a good job of being gritty and digging deep when they need to. I think today it was the intangible "desire" to get the job done that won it for us," Fitzgerald comments.
 
The Cowgirls will take to the road next week, traveling to Nicholls on Friday and not returning back to Cowgirl Field until October the 13^th. You can find updates on all things soccer by following the team on Twitter at @McNeeseSoccer.