APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer
Clarksville, TN – Junior keeper Haylee Shoaff recorded her fifth shutout in the last six games and Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team clinched a berth in November’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a 2-0 Senior Day victory against Jacksonville State, Sunday, at Morgan Brothers Field.
Jacksonville State (10-6-2, 3-4-1) falls to seventh and sits outside the six-team field for next month’s conference championship.
“It’s a great weekend for us and a great day,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “I’m proud that our team came out and secured a win for our seniors and put them in a position to extend their last season as long as possible.”
Austin Peay jumped out to an early lead thanks to the continued offensive brilliance of junior Tatiana Ariza. She corralled a loose ball in front of the Jacksonville State net and slipped it past the Gamecocks Katelyn Geddings for her season’s 11th goal.
In conference play Ariza now has eight goals and three assists, including seven goals and three assists in Austin Peay’s current 4-0-1 stretch. Her 29 points this season is the second-highest mark in Austin Peay history.
Austin Peay and Jacksonville State would lock horns in a defensive battle for the remainder of the first half and much of the second. Neither squad would so much as attempt a shot between the 52nd and 70th minutes.
The Lady Govs got a late insurance goal from junior Joceline Quiceno, who made an athletic play to get a head on an Ariza cross and redirect into the net for her season’s fourth goal. Senior Emily Perkins also assisted on the play.
Shoaff was stellar in net again, making four saves and earning her fifth shutout this season, all during OVC play. She’s now made 87 saves this season, tying her with Michelle Smith’s 2007 mark for sixth-most in a single season in Austin Peay history.
“Haylee’s been solid back there,” Guth said. “We have a lot of confidence in her abilities. We had to make some adjustments in our defense today and they didn’t falter. I commend Haylee and the rest of the backline for stepping up.”
Austin Peay remains tied with Eastern Kentucky for second in the OVC. The Lady Govs will get their chance against the Colonels next weekend, when they host Eastern Kentucky, 2:00pm, Sunday, in the regular-season finale. Austin Peay also has a road match-up at Morehead State, 6:00pm, Friday, in a must-win if the Lady Govs hope to keep pace with Eastern Kentucky and conference-leading UT Martin.
