RUSTON – It was a pitch perfect Friday night on a beautiful new pitch as the Louisiana Tech soccer team cruised to a 9-0 victory over East Texas Baptist in the 2021 season opener at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
 
Lauren Egbuloniu will be remembered as the first Lady Techster to score at the new facility, putting LA Tech (1-0) on the scoreboard in the 13th minute.  Over the next 32 minutes of the first half, six more goals would find the back of the net – Erin Chung (16'), Avery Kyle (28'), Egbuloniu with her second (30'), Lena Radler (36'), Maci Geltmeier (42') and Morgan Miller (43'). 
 
Plenty of new Lady Techsters saw action for the first time as 26 total players earned minutes.  However, it was a pair of sophomores that tacked on two more goals in the second half.  Kalli Matlock delivered a screamer from 25 yards away in the 78th minute and Alpine Williams followed suit in the 82nd minute.
 
LA Tech outshot ETBU (0-1), 26-7, and had a 6-2 corner kick advantage.  Freshman Sydnee Korchak got the victory in net, registering two saves.  Fellow freshman Libe Banuelos played the entire second half, notching four saves to help produce the clean sheet.  
 
QUOTABLES
Interim Head Coach Steve Voltz
 
"This night was about all of the alumni, the former players, everybody who has been here that got this process started.  And the current players who had to go through almost three years of not having a home, doing things that were not always easy.  To have this atmosphere, the turnout, and putting on a good performance, a lot of smiling faces, that is what the night was all about."
 
NOTABLES

• The nine goals scored was the most in program history in a season opener.
• The seven goals scored in the first half tied for the most goals ever scored in a single half in program history.
• Eleven players saw action for the first time as Lady Techsters.
• LA Tech improved to 5-0-0 in home season openers.

UP NEXT
LA Tech begins a three-game road swing on Sunday, Aug. 22 when they play at Murray State.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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