BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech soccer team allowed an early goal and could never counter with one of its own, falling 1-0 to UAB in the Conference USA opener on Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Field.
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LA Tech (7-3-0, 0-1-0 C-USA) managed just three shot attempts for the entire match with none of them coming on goal. On the other side of the pitch, the defense was strong in limiting scoring chances for UAB (4-3-1, 1-0-0 C-USA) except for a turnover a minute into the game that proved costly.
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Still trying to get settled into the match, the turnover by the Lady Techsters came at midfield. Pushing the ball forward, Betsy Ornelas sliced the center backs with a through ball. Caroline Kehrer timed her run and beat
Carlotta Cartelli 1v1 for the goal just 76 seconds into the match.
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UAB controlled most of the possession and the tempo in the first half. Meanwhile, LA Tech could only must one shot attempt through the first 45 minutes of action.Â
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The Lady Techsters did come out of halftime a lot more aggressive though.Â
Kaylee Zettler drove the ball up the left flank a couple of times in the first few minutes, delivering crossing passes inside the six but no one was there on the receiving end.Â
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LA Tech would go on to have four corner kicks in the second half as well, but could not get a result from any of the set pieces. Trying to press for the equalizer late in the match, things went from bad to worse as
Nomvula Kgoale had a hard challenge for which she received a red card for with four minutes to play.
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The Blazers then ran out the clock, snapping the four-match winning streak the Lady Techsters had in the series.  Â
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Makenna Johnson,
Elizabeth Doll and
Jaelyn Peeples played the full 90 minutes on a hot Sunday afternoon. Cartelli took the loss in net, her first of the season. She registered three saves in the game.
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Next up for LA Tech is a home matchup with Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.
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