Aug. 19, 2011
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RUSTON, La. - Freshman Abby Sentz (Kingwood, Texas) scored the first two goals of the game to lead Louisiana Tech to a 4-0 victory over South Alabama on Friday afternoon on Lady Techster Soccer Field with the temperature in the triple digits throughout the game.
The victory gives the Lady Techsters a 1-0 record while South Alabama drops to 0-1 on the year.
Sentz scored her first goal off a rebound on a shot by Scotti Culton (Waterloo, Ill.) in the 41st minute. The Jaguar goalie was able to save Culton's hard shot from the left side but Sentz was in position to put the ball in the back of the net.
"That finish was extremely difficult to do," head coach Kevin Sherry said. "Most kids would have smashed it 80 meters over the bar."
The second goal of the game for Sentz came in the 49th minute off a cross from senior Olivia Lukasewich (Woodbridge, Ontario).
"I really didn't expect it at all and was just happy to play," said Sentz. "When I scored it was so unexpected that it was awesome."
With Lukasewich's move from defense to forward, LA Tech was able to put more pressure on USA's defense.
"She is the fittest person on the team and the constant running in behind the defenders drained them since they had to keep running back to the goal," said Sherry.
A long pass from sophomore Jessica Davis (Shreveport, La.) allowed fellow classmate Taylor Dennis (Albuquerque, N.M.) to get behind the defense. USA's goalie hesitated coming out which allowed Dennis to chip the ball over her to give Tech a 3-0 lead in the 75th minute.
The final goal of the match came with eight second left in the game. Senior Brittany Coffinbargar (Springfield, Ill.) received a cross from Dennis and put the ball into the back of the net.
In goal for Tech, sophomore Caitlin Updyke (Broomfield, Colo.) saved three shots to notch her eight career shutout. The win was the 15th of her career and moves her within three victories of passing teammate senior Cat Buchanan (Shawnee, Kan.) on the program's all-time list.
Updyke benefited from a very strong defense with the only major threat being a shot off the cross bar late in the second half.
"Defensively we are really sound right now," Lukasewich said. "They didn't have any chances and if they did then it was long balls."
The Lady Techsters outshot the Jaguars 16-10 with Dennis leading the way with four shots, three on goal.
Tech returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. at Southern Miss. The Lady Techsters next home game is Aug. 28 against Troy with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
