BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Averett University women's soccer team loss to non-conference foe Southern Virginia University on the road in a close 4-3 contest on Tuesday night.
The first 45 minutes were eventful for both squads. All seven goals came in the first period with Southern Virginia (3-5, 0-0 CAC) taking an early 2-0 lead. Jamilla Gambee netted two balls in the 17th and 23rd minute, but that didn't phase the Cougars. Sophomore midfielder Amanda Gustavsson answered with a goal at the 28:03 mark to put Averett within one, and junior defender Riley Smith nailed a 30-yard floater to tie the game at 2-2 about five minutes later.
After another SVU goal, junior midfielder Johanna Ohrnberg footed the ball in for an Averett goal on a feed from Gustavsson to knot the game again with under two minutes left in the half, but SVU scored at the 44:46 mark to go into halftime with a 4-3 momentum and end the game on the same note.
Despite the loss, Averett (0-4-1, 0-1 USA South) scored a season high in goals and was the most aggressive it had been so far this season on the offensive end, booting 18 shots with 10 on goal.
"Our attackers were busy tonight. It was good to see a lot of opportunities in our attacking half," said head coach Sarah Chapman. "We now need to finish the chances we are given. We had a few break aways that we should have put away early, but I was happy with our offense."
Chapman isn't too worried because she sees improvement in her young team, made up of mostly underclassmen with no seniors.
"I am looking forward to see how the girls do this weekend. They are trusting and believing in the process, even if we do not come out with a win," she said.
The Cougars return home to Daly Field this weekend for two conference games. Averett will take on N.C. Wesleyan College on Friday, Sept. 25 at 4 p.m., and it will also host Piedmont College on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Both games are doubleheaders featuring the men's squads of each of the schools.
