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HomeSportsPamela Penaloza scores late to give APSU Soccer 1-0 Win over Eastern...

Pamela Penaloza scores late to give APSU Soccer 1-0 Win over Eastern Kentucky

APSU Sports Information

APSU Soccer - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – When two of the premier teams in the Ohio Valley Conference met Thursday under the lights at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field, you knew it would be a fight to the finish.

The match between Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team and Eastern Kentucky was that and then some.

Austin Peay Soccer takes down Eastern Kentucky at home Thursday night. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Soccer takes down Eastern Kentucky at home Thursday night. (APSU Sports Information)

The Governors and Colonels entered as two of the three remaining unbeaten squads in the OVC, and just when it appeared overtime was evident with the scoreboard showing zeros, a laser strike by redshirt freshman Pamela Penaloza ignited the crowd.

In the 88th minute after the Govs continued to create opportunities against the pesky EKU defense, APSU won a corner kick which was taken by senior Gina Fabbro.

APSU Soccer - Pamela PenalozaOn the third phase of chances following a couple deflections, the ball was cleared out beyond the 18-yard box. Penaloza gathered herself, took a couple touches, and fired a strike into the top left corner of the net.

It was the first goal allowed by Eastern Kentucky in its last five matches, coming against the top goalkeeper in the league, Anna Hall. For Penaloza, it was the second goal of her young career.

“EKU is a good team and it was a great game,” head coach Kelley Guth said. “It shows our commitment to keep the ball in our half, and what a finish it was. It couldn’t have happened to a greater kid. Pam works hard and doesn’t get a lot of recognition for the contributions she makes for us, so it was a great moment for her.”

APSU Soccer - Lindsey ToddJust as impressive was the goalkeeping performance by junior Lindsey Todd. Todd came up with numerous clutch saves, including denying an EKU goal after being faced with a 1-v-1 situation. The victory gives her a 6-0-1 record after her second shutout of 2016.

“She was outstanding today,” Guth said. “She was the first one I walked up to after the game to congratulate. I told the girls I think our best soccer is still to be played. We have to continue striving to get better. We can learn a lot from tonight’s game, but most importantly, we battled through and found a way to win.”

The Govs (8-4-1, 3-0-1 OVC) recorded 10 of their 11 shots in the second half, while Eastern Kentucky (8-3, 3-1 OVC) had 10 overall and seven after the break. Fabbro and junior Kirstin Robertson each had three shots to lead the team.

Austin Peay will ride the momentum into Sunday’s match against Tennessee Tech, with kickoff beginning at 1:00pm, from Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.

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