APSU Sports Information
Martin, TN – Junior Kirstin Robertson‘s 10th goal proved to be the most important of the season thus far, Friday at UT Martin, with her 88th minute score lifting Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team to a 4-3 victory.
The Ashland City, Tennessee, native took a couple touches before firing a low shot into the left corner, capping off a thrilling offensive showcase. Entering Friday, only four players in the nation had recorded 10 or more goals in 2016, with Robertson now in elite company.
Robertson is the fastest Gov to reach double-digit goal totals (11 games) since Tatiana Ariza scored 11 goals in 10 matches back in 2013. In addition, Robertson has already matched last year’s top scorer, Gina Fabbro, in five fewer contests.
Austin Peay (7-4, 2-0 OVC) opened the scoring following a fast-paced attack to begin the match. Both of APSU’s first two goals came off crosses, with the tandem of Robertson and Fabbro working to perfection. In the eighth minute, Fabbro delivered the assist with Robertson finishing from close range. Three minutes later, Robertson returned the favor to give the senior her third goal of 2016.
After a 2-0 halftime lead, the Govs stayed aggressive early in the second half. The aggressiveness led to a red card issued to UT Martin’s Maggie Burkett, who was previously shown a yellow in the first half. This helped Austin Peay score its third goal of the night – a strike by Semaan following a deflection in the 51st minute.
But despite being down to 10 players on the pitch, the Skyhawks (3-8, 0-3 OVC) created opportunities to eventually level the score. In the 63rd minute, Amy McGivern scored off a quick pass from Saphyra Coombs-James, then Danae Kaldaridou closed the gap on an unassisted goal. Lastly, in the 78th minute, McGivern struck once more with a shot from just outside the box, evening the score at 3-3 before Robertson’s game-winner.
APSU’s three goal scorers combined to total 12 of the team’s 18 shots in the match. In goal, junior Lindsey Todd was awarded the victory, improving her undefeated record to 5-0-0.
Austin Peay completes its weekend road trip with a visit to Southeast Missouri, 2:00pm, Sunday, at Houck Stadium.
