Sept. 26, 2008

Box Score

SHREVEPORT -- An own goal by Louisiana Tech late in the game cost the Lady Techsters as they tied Centenary 1-1 in women's collegiate soccer action Friday night in Shreveport.

With Tech leading 1-0, the Lady Techsters had a throw in from the left side that was headed to goalkeeper Jean Bernard before defender Brittany Davis inadvertently headed into her own net, tying the game at 1-1.

Neither team scored in either of the two overtimes as Tech recorded its first tie of the season and is now 7-2-1 on the season while Centenary is 2-7-1.

"I told the team at halftime that Centenary wasn't going to score," said head coach Kevin Sherry. "I said that the only way they were going to score is if we gave them one. That's what we did.

"I give Centenary a lot of credit. They hustled from the first minute to the last. We were more technical, but they had more heart. If you have enough heart you can get the result you desire. It's not just enough to be better technically."

Tech took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute of the game as Emily Cleaveland scored on an assist from Kat McCullough, who added to her career assist record at LA Tech with the eighth of her career -- the fourth of the season.

"It was a nice move down the right hand side," Sherry said. "Kat McCullough drew the keeper out and made the pass across to allow Emily to score. Kat was the player of the game for us. She was awesome.

"She was all over the field. It was the first time we've ever seen it. We knew she was a good player but today she was all over the place, making things happen. It was the best we've seen from her."

Tech maintained the 1-0 lead until the 80th minute when Davis' header found the back of the Lady Techster net.

Sherry said that his team missed the offensive mindset of Kristen Sevier, the team's leading scorer who missed the game due to injury.

"We missed Kristen today," Sherry said. "We missed her goal scoring. She is the only player that has that shooters mentality. To be a good scorer, you have to have a certain mentality and courage. A lot of players think pass instead of shoot. We needed that killer instinct and that is what Kristen brings."

Tech returns to action Sunday when the Lady Techsters host Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium.