Photograph: L to R – Renee Junna, Marta San Teodoro, Morgan Bean, Citlaly Santibanez and Chloe Diaz, (Courtesy of LSUE)
EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice delivered a statement win heading into the postseason as the No. 20 Bengals upended No. 3 Hill College 4-3 in overtime on Friday at the Bengal Soccer Complex. The win was the first time in program history LSU Eunice (9-3-1) defeated a NJCAA Top 5 team as the Bengals delivered Hill its first loss of the season.
“I’m really proud of the team’s resolve throughout today’s game,” LSU Eunice Women’s Soccer head coach Brock Ogami said. “We never backed down through some adversity there late in the first half and these young women continue to impress me with their will to win.”
Three of the team’s four goals would come by way of the set piece including the game winner. Renee Junna would send her team into a frenzy as the Australian would deliver a nearly 45-yard free kick goal. The curving attempt would tuck in the bottom far corner past the diving Hill goalkeeper.
The 97th minute tally would be the golden goal in the first overtime.
Junna also would get the scoring started less than ten minutes into the game with the first of her two free kick goal. The defenseman would curl in a rifle to the near side after the Bengals drew a foul about 25 yards from net down the left side.
The LSUE would lead would be short lived as Hill would answer with an equalizer in the 21st minute and a go-ahead goal less than a minute before intermission, taking a 2-1 advantage into the break.
The Bengals would stay within striking distance thanks to a strong effort in net by Avery Wright. The sophomore would stop a handful of offensive possessions for Hill including a spectacular diving save late in the first half.
After halftime, the Bengals would come out full throttle. LSUE would knot it up with a transition goal in the 48th minute as Citlaly Santibanez dropped a beautiful bouncing inlet pass to a sprinting Lucia Lorenzo-Parga. The sophomore would outrun two defenders, would get tripped by the Hill goalkeeper inside the 18-yard box but put just enough pace on a shot to see it trickle in.
Morgan Bean helped LSUE regain the lead momentarily as she would connect on a loose corner kick attempt near the top of the box, volleying a laser over the goalkeeper’s head. Hill would help send it into overtime with a set piece goal of its own with less than 15 minutes remaining in regulation.
LSU Eunice now awaits its first-round draw of the Region 14 Tournament. The Bengals are postseason partners with Region 14 as it will be the tournament’s three-seed and host first round play on Wednesday, October 26.
Make sure to log onto www.lsuebengals.net for updated postseason information.
