Sept. 9, 2011

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RUSTON, La. - The Louisiana Tech soccer team played to a 1-1 tie against a Stephen F. Austin team that challenged the Lady Techsters all Friday afternoon at Lady Techster Soccer Complex.

"I cannot believe that we got a tie, but we could have won it because of how amazing our kids were today," said head coach Kevin Sherry. "Stephen F. Austin is by far the best soccer team I have seen on this field since I got here and they are the blueprint for what I want our team to be."

With the draw, Tech is now 4-1-3 on the year and the Ladyjacks are 2-2-1.

The Lady Techsters got on the scoreboard first when Lindsay Brough (Salt Lake City, Utah) knocked the ball into the back of the net off a blocked shot in the 13th minute, which was her first of the season, with senior Chelsea White (Lucas, Texas) being credited with the assist.

"It was a corner that bounced around in the box and I looked to put the ball in the corner of the net and it bounced off one of their players and in," Brough said.

SFA would respond though in the 26th minute though when Brenda Salazar headed a cross in from Laura Sadler to tie the game at 1-1.

"It was a far post cross and we had our two smallest players there that but they couldn't win the header and it fell right to their player," Sherry said.

With time winding down in the first half, senior Scotti Culton (Waterloo, Ill.) had a chance to give Tech the leading going into halftime but sent a shot just over the crossbar from eight yards out off an indirect free kick that was given after a foul in the box.

"That was a key moment in the game," Sherry stated. "It was a free kick eight yards from the goal and in women's soccer that should be a score 99 percent of the time. Unfortunately Scotti hit it over the bar."

Both teams had chances in the second half and both overtime periods to score but were unable to get the break needed to beat either goalkeeper.

Sophomore Caitlin Updyke (Broomfield, Colo.) started in goal for the Lady Techsters and was credited with a save, but made multiple stops on attempted crosses by the Ladyjacks.

Overall, Tech outshot SFA 17-8 with all eight of the Ladyjacks shots coming in regulation. Sophomore Paige Dunn (Forney, Texas) and Culton lead the team with three shots apiece, with Dunn placing all of her attempts on goal.

For SFA, Chelsea Raymond led the squad with three shots, one on goal. Lacy Lee got the start in the net and stopped eight shots on the afternoon.

Tech returns to action this Sunday at Jackson State, the first of four straight road games, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.