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HomeSportsAPSU Soccer shuts down Alabama A&M, 4-0

APSU Soccer shuts down Alabama A&M, 4-0

APSU Sports Information

APSU Soccer - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s soccer team enjoyed a dominating performance, defeating Alabama A&M, 4-0, Friday, at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.

The Govs were the more attacking side of the two to start the match with Morgan Drawdy hitting the post inside eight minutes.

Austin Peay Women's Soccer power their way to 4-0 win over Alabama A&M Friday at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Women’s Soccer power their way to 4-0 win over Alabama A&M Friday at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field. (APSU Sports Information)

However, Alabama A&M dropped eight or nine players behind the ball and it started to frustrate the Govs. Amber Bateman, earning her first start of the season, had a huge chance around midway through the half but headed wide of the goal.

The Govs finally found the breakthrough as a result of Claire Larose’s hard running. Larose ran about 50 yards and got around a defender before she was pulled back in the box, earning a penalty kick.

2018 APSU Soccer - Morgan DrawdyDrawdy stepped up and converted the penalty in the 25th minute to give the Govs a 1-0 lead. Alabama A&M had a huge chance to equalize, but hit it over the bar.

Head coach Naomi Kolarova made some great halftime adjustments, as Larose scored less than three minutes into the second half. Larose coolly placed the ball into the right-hand corner of the net to double the lead for APSU.

Larose again got on the scoresheet in the 59th minute, as she stepped in front of her defender to volley home an inch-perfect cross from Katie Kenward.

2018 APSU Soccer - Rachel BradberryThe Govs had a couple more chances in the next 20 minutes, before freshman Rachel Bradberry scored her first career goal to make it 4-0 for the Govs. Drawdy fed a ball between the center backs of the Bulldogs to release Bradberry, who slotted past the keeper to wrap up the scoring.

Mary Parker Powell, who earned the win, combined with Peyton Powell for the shutout, as the Govs have still not allowed a goal this season.

The Govs have the week off before going on the road to take on Little Rock, next Friday.

APSU Notably

The Govs extend their unbeaten streak at home to 18 matches.

2018 APSU Soccer - Claire LaroseLarose’s two goals brought her season tally to three, matching her whole season’s tally already.

Drawdy took and converted the first penalty kick of the season for the Govs.

Drawdy has now made two career penalties, tied for second all-time.

The Govs have now recorded three shutouts in a row for the first time since October 21st-27th, 2016.

Kolarova has now used a different starting lineup in every match so far.

The shutout streak is the second longest to begin a season for the Govs.

Mary Parker Powell earned her seventh career shutout, tying Nikki Filippone for fifth all-time.

The Govs have now won five straight against Alabama A&M.

The four goals were the most the Govs scored since September 30th, 2016, a 4-3 win over UT Martin.

Naomi Kolarova’s Thoughts

On the first half
“I thought the first half could have been better. We started slow, were not very intense, and we talked about that prior to the game. We wanted to pressure them highly and press them on the ball in their back third, but we did not do that well enough.”

On the second half
“We had a chat at halftime and we stepped out and played a lot better. We were much quicker, had more intensity, and filled in some areas we needed to. After that, it was a different game and the girls did well to finish the chances they had in the second half. I’m super pumped we were able to get another win.”

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