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HomeSportsAriza goes for three, Lady Govs soccer downs Saint Louis

Ariza goes for three, Lady Govs soccer downs Saint Louis

APSU Sports: Women’s Soccer

Austin Peay State University Lady GovsClarksville, TN – Sophomore Tatiana Ariza’s hat trick gave Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team a 3-2 exhibition win against Saint Louis, Sunday, at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.

Ariza scored all three goals in the second half. The first came in the 57th minute off a nifty crossover, going to left to right, and firing a one-timer past the diving Billiken keeper. She used a similar move in the 87th minute for the gamewinner on a ball that was tracked down and recovered by Natalia Ariza.

APSU Women's Soccer. (Courtesy: Mateen Sidiq/Austin Peay)
APSU Women's Soccer. (Courtesy: Mateen Sidiq/Austin Peay)

“I’m pleased with the result,” head coach Kelley Guth said. “Tatiana is a dangerous player and we know that. It was good to see her get those goals today. At no point were we behind in the game, but we have to learn that a team is always going to fight back to beat you if you don’t hold strong and maintain control of the game. We have to work on that.”

After a blowout 5-0 win against Freed-Hardeman, Friday, the Lady Govs were tested, Sunday, by a talented Saint Louis squad. Shortly after Tatiana scored the game’s first goal, the Billikens evened it up with a 64th minute goal. It took less than a minute for Tatiana to put APSU on top again, as she was pulled down in the box and awarded a penalty kick in the 65th minute.

Tatiana ArizaSaint Louis scored both their goals off set pieces, marking an emphasis for the Lady Govs on which to improve. With a relatively new look in the defense  – playing sophomore Emily Kink and junior Sara Kluttz in the center, flanked by sophomore Corey Osborn, junior Renny Robinson and junior Stephanie Weider – Ausitn Peay had some weaknesses brought to light by the Billikens.

“It was a great matchup for us,” Guth said. “They really challenged us and that’s what we wanted to get out of the preseason. They taught us some lessons on defending set pieces. We have to work on our recovery, as far as defending, in those situations. It was good to see how our team reacted under pressure.”

Austin Peay now turns its attention to its season-opening road trip beginning with a 4:00pm, Friday match at Alabama A&M.

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