Austin Peay Lady Govs Soccer’s offense stalls in loss to Gonzaga

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer

Clarksville, TN – Another early goal put Austin Peay State University women’s soccer down early, and the Lady Govs were unable to find the equalizer, falling 1-0 to Gonzaga, Friday.

When starting keeper Nikki Filippone was forced to exit the game early in the first half due to injury, junior Haylee Shoaff was called in off the bench for Austin Peay (2-3-0). Gonzaga (4-1-0) forced across a ninth-minute goal on a Cricket Harber free kick that was touched to Kasey Rubosky by Emma Dolcetti. Rubosky put the header past the freshly-entered Shoaff for the go-ahead goal.

Austin Peay’s best first-half scoring chances came via an Emily Perkins shot on goal in the 15th minute and a rocket off the leg of sophomore Corey Osborn on a free kick that went just right of the goal in the 37th minute.

“We had a number of good opportunities attacking-wise in the first half,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “We’ve got to do a better job of defending set pieces and not falling into a hole.”

Gonzaga kept the pressure on the Lady Govs in the second half, with 10 shot attempts, including four on goal. Shoaff made all four save attempts in the second half, and six total in the contest, to push her past Brooke Abrahams for fourth all-time in Lady Govs history with 104.

Both Ariza sisters put shots on goal in the second half, but Gonzaga keeper Susan Brown stifled both attempts on net. She totaled three saves in the clean sheet.

“We’re trying to be smart early in the season and give some players a little rest and play other people a little more,” Guth said. “Giving our starters some rest gave our starters a little more kick at the end of the game.”

The Lady Govs will have a day of rest before returning to action at 2:00pm, Sunday, when they host in-state foe Chattanooga in the finale of a four-game home stand. There will be a post-match clinic for kids at the conclusion of play.

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