Aug. 27, 2009
RUSTON, La. -- Following a week full of practices, the Louisiana Tech women's soccer team will resume its schedule as they play host to Grambling State on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Lady Techster Soccer Field.
Tech is coming off its first win of the season and the program's first victory on its new pitch. The team earned a 3-2 double overtime win over Lamar on Aug. 21 thanks to a golden goal by Olivia Lukasewich at the 106th-minute mark of the contest. Not only was the win the team's first of the year, but it was also the program's first on its new field and the program's first overtime victory in its brief history.
"The team responded well to the challenge of playing its first game on our new field last Friday," Tech head coach Kevin Sherry said. "We fell behind Lamar 2-1 and were fortunate to come out with a double overtime win. I think the first win was very important for our psyche. The team has a spring in its step and is looking forward with a positive attitude towards the rest of the season."
Captain Kiva Gresham, who scored the team's first goal of the season, lead the Lady Techsters with one goal and one assist against Lamar in 96 minutes of action. Scotti Culton added her fourth goal of her young career to tie the game in the second half of the contest.
Grambling State travels to Ruston for Tech's second match of the season on Friday. The Lady Tigers lost 2-0 to Northwestern State in their first game of the year.
Sherry is well aware of the Lady Tigers as he has seen Grambling State twice since he took over as the Techsters head coach in 2007.
"Grambling State is a great team," Sherry said. "They are athletic, hard working and have one of the best strikers in the region in Ashley Baker. We suffered a heart breaking loss to them last season so our team realizes it needs to work hard and focus if we want to get a positive result out of this game. The match will be a good test of our mental toughness and one in which we are all looking forward to playing."
Thus far, the Lady Tigers have held the advantage in the head-to-head battle between the two schools as they lead the series 3-0-0. In the past two meetings, Grambling State has one each match by one goal. Last season, Tech had a two-goal lead in the second half, but the Lady Tigers were able to pull off a 3-2 win in the first overtime.
Eight starters return from last year's Lady Tiger team that finished first in the Western Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Forwards Rachele Dobbins and Ashley Baker will once again suit up in black and gold. Dobbins scored seven times last year and Baker added five goals and one assist for Grambling State.
Admission is free to all Lady Techster soccer home games. Concessions will be available. Fans are encouraged to park in the lot adjacent to the Lady Techster Softball Complex off Tech Drive or in the lots next to the Charles Wyly Athletic Center.
For complete coverage of Lady Techster Soccer, visit the official home of LA Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.
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