RUSTON, La. – After a day's delay due to weather, the Louisiana Tech soccer team kicked off the 2022 season Friday morning at home with a 2-1 win over Murray State. 
 
LA Tech (1-0-0) opened the season's scoring in the 35^th minute off a header from junior defender Kalli Matlock. The shot was set up by Lena Radler's corner cross which came off a beautiful individual move to shake her defender. 
 
Despite a couple of threatening chances from Murray State (0-1-0), Tech's defense held on to the 1-0 lead after 45 minutes of action. 
 
With Murray State pressing the tempo early in the second half, the Racers found the back of the net in the 63^rdminute to knot the match at one goal apiece. 
 
Murray State's Hailey Cole finished off a touch pass from Sydney Etter from the top of the box sending the ball to the top left corner of the net. 
 
After twelve minutes of back-and-forth action and Tech threatening deep in Murray State territory, the Racers were called for a yellow card in the penalty box to set up a penalty kick opportunity for the Techsters. 
 
Sophomore defender Carmen Suarez confidently stepped up to take the kick beating the Racer's keeper with a shot in the top right corner to regain the lead for Tech (2-1). 

Murray State had one final shot to tie the game in the final 90 seconds, but a diving save by goalkeeper Sydnee Korchak sealed the win for the Techsters. 
 

How pretty is this? 😍 pic.twitter.com/qNjbfzWfCb

— LA Tech Soccer ⚽ (@LATechSOC) August 19, 2022

 

A look at the game winner.

Carmen Suarez • (PK) • 75' pic.twitter.com/9f9pCFukqR

— LA Tech Soccer ⚽ (@LATechSOC) August 19, 2022

 


NOTABLES

• LA Tech is now 6-0-0 all-time in season home openers. 
• Tech is now 4-0-0 inside The Mack in non-conference games.
• Tech ties the all-time series with Murray State 2-2-0 and is their first win over the Racers since 2010.
• Kalli Matlock scored her third career goal. 
• Lena Radler was credited with her first career assist. 
• Carmen Suarez's goal was the second of her career, and the first PK of her career.
• Tech faced four shots on goal, Sydnee Korchak was credited with two saves, while the other save was a team save by Radler.
• Korchak now has totaled 14 career saves in four starts posting a 3-1-0 record.
• Tech has scored the first goal of the season in three of the last four years.
• Sophie Fijneman played in the 50^th match of her career and is the team's active leader in games played. 
• Freshmen Flavie Dube and Riley Bonadie played in their first career collegiate match. 
• Dube finished the match with four shots, three of which were on goal

Season Opener | By The Numbers pic.twitter.com/kIRIXMGmXt

— LA Tech Soccer ⚽ (@LATechSOC) August 19, 2022

UP NEXT
LA Tech gets right back to action at home inside The Mack this Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. for an in-state face off against Northwestern State. The game will be streamed on CUSA.tv. 
 
For tickets, go to LATechSports.com/tickets or call the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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