APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer
Clarksville, TN – A three-goal first half kick-started the Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team to a big conference win, Sunday, at Morgan Brothers Field. The Lady Govs welcomed Belmont to the Ohio Valley Conference with an important 3-0 victory.
Just over a minute later, junior Joceline Quiceno took a feed from her sister Andy and slid a shot to the lower left corner for the second Lady Govs goal. Austin Peay got that goal while playing one player short after Emily Perkins was sidelined for a moment following an injury.
“We had the momentum at that point,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “To be down a player, even momentarily, and pick up a goal was a huge boost for us.”
The assist was the 13th of Andy Quiceno’s career, moving her into second-place all-time in Lady Govs history. Her sister Joceline Quiceno moved into seventh place all-time in career points with 23.
Ariza picked up her second goal in the 22nd minute on a heady play from the offensive wunderkind. After Perkin played a ball into the box that was misplayed by Belmont’s Nicole Berner, Ariza pounced on the loose ball and fired it into the open net for her season’s sixth goal.
With six goals and four assists giving her 16 points this season, Ariza now has three of the top five single-season scoring performances in Austin Peay history: 39 points (first, 2011), 27 points (second, 2010) and 16 points (fifth, 2012).
“I’m proud of how we played today,” Ariza said. “It makes us feel good to score against a good defensive team like this.”
In scoring three times against Belmont, Austin Peay snapped a dubious string. It’s the first time the Lady Govs have scored three goals or more against an OVC opponent since defeating UT Martin 3-1 on October 1st, 2006.
“Haylee’s really stepping up,” Guth said. “She’s gained some confidence on high balls and is using her height to her advantage. She and the backline have really tightened up lately.”
With the victory and losses by Southeast Missouri and Tennessee Tech, the Lady Govs move into a fifth-place tie with Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech. The Lady Govs are on the right track after dropping two conference matches to open the 2012 OVC schedule.
“Belmont’s a good team,” Guth said. “We were fortunate early to get some really good opportunities on the attack and capitalize on them. They’re going to give a lot of teams problems as we get deeper into the schedule.”
The Lady Govs make an in-conference trip to Illinois next weekend, with matches at Eastern Illinois (1:00pm, Friday, Octiober 12th) and SIU Edwardsville (1:00pm, Sunday, October 14th).
