
It was a week for midfielders delivering from set pieces in the south of the country, with highlights coming from both a corner and a free kick. Meanwhile, Aimee Benton and Grambling State continue to dominate, and two Aussies are right in the regular season title hunt in the Atlantic 10.
Emma Bates scored her first collegiate goal earlier in the season, but this week saw the sophomore turn provider for a teammate in Louisiana’s 2-1 win over Southern Miss. Bates’ delivery from a corner in the 18th minute proved too much for the Golden Eagles’ goalkeeper to handle, with the ball slipping through to Hailly Waterhouse at the back post, who made the most of the unexpected opportunity. Southern Miss would equalise 11 minutes later, but the Ragin Cajuns’ re-established their advantage in the 33rd minute as all three goals came well before halftime. The win could also prove crucial to Louisiana’s chances of reaching the Sun Belt conference tournament. They currently sit tied for 10th with four games remaining in a league that qualifies ten teams to its conference tournament.
Molly Arens has once again been instrumental for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, even if the goals and assists that poured in last season haven’t been there in 2023. However, that changed this week as the Novocastrian helped the Islanders to a 2-0 win over Nicholls State with a pinpoint free kick. Storm Harris had put Texas A&M-Corpus Christi up 1-0 on the half-hour mark, and it only took three minutes more for Arens to double the advantage. Standing over a free kick just outside the area, the midfielder nestled the ball just inside the post and past the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms. The Islanders may not have scored another goal, but with Nicholls State only managing a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes, two were more than enough. The result leaves the Islanders level in third place in the Southland Conference with four games remaining. Seven of the league’s nine teams qualify for the conference championship, putting the Islanders only a couple of wins away from securing a berth. However, securing a high seed in a tournament that they are already slated to host will be near the top of their list of goals for the regular season.
However, that wasn’t the only highlight for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from an Aussie standpoint this week. Head Coach Craig Shaw brought up his 150th collegiate win with his side’s victory over Southeastern Louisiana earlier in the week. Shaw started his coaching career at Ottawa University in Kansas before moving on to start the women’s soccer program at NCAA Division II outfit Fort Hays State, with several Australians playing for the Tigers during his stay with the team. Shaw made the move to Corpus Christi in 2017, with 44 of those 150 wins coming with the Islanders.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic 10 continues to dish up plenty of eye-catching moments for Aussie fans, with Courtney Butlion’s La Salle and Hannah Peric’s Massachusetts outfits sitting in 3rd and 4th respectively. Unfortunately, the Minutewomen couldn’t break through for a winner against St. Bonaventure, but Peric and the UMass defence kept things locked down at the back. The Manly United product played the full 90 minutes and finished with a shot on target, but more importantly, helped hold St. Bonaventure to only a single shot on target throughout the entire contest.
Meanwhile, Butlion was in the starting lineup as La Salle routed George Mason 5-0, the second time an Aussie-laden side has produced that scoreline against the Patriots after Greta Kraszula and VCU did the same earlier this season. Butlion may not have finished among the scorers but did notch two shots on target in her 64 minutes on the pitch as the entire Explorers attack looked dangerous throughout.
The results leave La Salle on 15 points, a point back of Saint Louis and Dayton, with Massachusetts a further point behind in fourth place. Greta Kraszula and VCU sit further down the table on seven points, with a string of 1-0 losses despite regularly outshooting their opponents hurting their chances at this stage. If they can put the ball in the net regularly in their final three games, they can certainly turn things around and make a run at a top 8 spot and a place in the conference tournament.
Finally, down in the SWAC, an Aussie v Aussie battle that had questions on both sides over playing time saw both players see the pitch as Grambling State took on Mississippi Valley State. Freshman goalkeeper Aimee Benton played the second half of the contest for Grambling State, whilst Jacquelline Kambere came off the bench to play 20 minutes for the Delta Devils, notching a shot in the process. In the end, it was Grambling State who continued to ride roughshod over the SWAC with a 3-1 victory. The Tigers now sit a perfect 6-0 in conference play and six points clear of the chasing pack. Jackson State do have two games in hand though, and Grambling State’s battle with their fellow Tigers on October 20 looks as though it will be the match that decides the regular season title. Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley State look as though they will be scrapping with fellow Aussie-laden side Alabama State for one of the final spots in the 8-team conference tournament.
Alabama State (Madison Chambers, Grace Norbury)
This week: lost 3-2 to Jackson St.; drew 1-1 with Southern U.
Madison Chambers came off the bench for Alabama State in both games this week, playing 31 minutes against Jackson State and 15 minutes in the draw with Southern. Grace Norbury started on both occasions, notching a shot on target in a full-game outing against Jackson State and playing 88 minutes against Southern.
Bellarmine (Teagan Douglas)
This week: lost 2-0 to Central Ark.; lost 2-1 to North Ala.
Teagan Douglas started both games for Bellarmine this week, playing 75 minutes against Central Arkansas and 81 minutes against North Alabama.
Butler (Claire Farrington)
This week: drew 1-1 with Villanova; lost 2-1 to DePaul
Claire Farrington played the full 90 minutes for Butler on both occasions this week, tallying a shot against DePaul.
Central Michigan (Shivani Battaglia)
This week: drew 2-2 with Buffalo; lost 3-1 to Kent St.
Shivani Battaglia did not feature for Central Michigan in either game this week.
Coastal Carolina (Asha McClurg)
This week: lost 4-0 to Texas St.; lost 2-1 to Ga. Southern
Asha McClurg did not feature for Coastal Carolina in either game this week.
Dartmouth (Kate Ryan)
This week: drew 1-1 with Columbia
Kate Ryan did not feature in Dartmouth’s draw with Columbia.
Denver (Isabella Chidiac)
This week: defeated South Dakota St. 4-2; defeated South Dakota 3-1
Isabella Chidiac came off the bench for Denver in both games this week, playing 10 minutes against South Dakota State and 17 minutes in the win over South Dakota.
Eastern Kentucky (Sophie MacAlpine)
This week: drew 0-0 with North Ala.; lost 2-1 to Central Ark.
Sophie MacAlpine came off the bench to register a shot on target in her 22 minutes against North Alabama, but did not feature in Eastern Kentucky’s loss to Central Arkansas.
Grambling State (Aimee Benton)
This week: defeated Mississippi Val. 3-1; defeated Alcorn 1-0
Aimee Benton came off the bench to make one save in a 45-minute outing in Grambling State’s win over Mississippi Valley State, but did not feature in the win over Alcorn State.
Hawaii (Eliza Ammendolia)
This week: defeated CSU Bakersfield 2-0; lost 3-2 to UC Davis
Eliza Ammendolia started both games for Hawaii this week, registering a shot on target in 76 minutes against Cal State Bakersfield and another two shots in 72 minutes against UC Davis.
High Point (Meg Roden)
This week: drew 1-1 with Longwood
Meg Roden started in High Point’s draw with Longwood, playing 60 minutes.
Illinois (Isabel Rolley)
This week: lost 3-1 to Minnesota
Isabel Rolley started in Illinois’ loss to Minnesota, tallying a shot in 37 minutes of action.
Kent State (Lua Suero)
This week: lost 3-1 to Ball St.; defeated Central Mich. 3-1
Lua Suero came off the bench to play 8 minutes in Kent State’s loss to Ball State, but did not feature in the win over Central Michigan.
La Salle (Courtney Butlion)
This week: defeated George Mason 5-0
Courtney Butlion started in La Salle’s win over George Mason, notching two shots on target in 64 minutes of play.
Little Rock (Cameron Barreiro, Emily Jensen, Candice Kilderry, Bronte Peel)
This week: drew 1-1 with Southeast Mo. St; drew 1-1 with SIUE
Candice Kilderry came off the bench to play 41 minutes in Little Rock’s draw with Southeast Missouri State, before starting and playing 45 minutes against SIU Edwardsville. Emily Jensen started and played 39 minutes against Southeast Missouri State, but did not feature against SIU Edwardsville. Neither Bronte Peel nor Cameron Barreiro featured in either game this week.
Long Island (Matilda Boyle, Isabella Stein)
This week: lost 2-0 to FDU
Izzy Stein started in Long Island’s loss to Fairleigh Dickinson, playing 83 minutes. Matilda Boyle did not feature for the Sharks on this occasion.
Louisiana (Emma Bates)
This week: lost 3-1 to Ga. Southern; defeated Southern Miss. 2-1
Emma Bates started both games for Louisiana this week, registering a shot on target in 70 minutes of action against Georgia Southern and tallying an assist in her 57 minutes on the pitch against Southern Miss.
Maine (Lara Kirkby)
This week: defeated NJIT 2-0
Lara Kirkby started in Maine’s win over NJIT, playing 75 minutes.
Massachusetts (Hannah Peric)
This week: drew 0-0 with St. Bonaventure
Hannah Peric played the full 90 minutes in Massachusetts’ draw with St. Bonaventure, tallying a shot on target.
Mississippi Valley State (Jacquelline Kambere)
This week: lost 3-1 to Grambling; lost 3-1 to Ark.-Pine Bluff
Jacquelline Kambere came off the bench for Mississippi Valley State in both games this week, registering a shot in 20 minutes against Grambling State and tallying an assist on her team’s only goal during her 55 minutes on the pitch against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Morehead State (Natasha Tanner)
This week: defeated Southeast Mo. St. 1-0
Natasha Tanner did not feature in Morehead State’s win over Southeast Missouri State.
Northwestern State (Caitlin Le Roux)
This week: lost 1-0 to Lamar University; lost 2-1 to Houston Christian
Caitlin Le Roux started both games for Northwestern State this week, tallying a shot on target in 48 minutes against Lamar and playing 51 minutes against Houston Christian.
Oral Roberts (Layla Lopez)
This week: defeated North Dakota St. 1-0; lost 1-0 to St. Thomas (MN)
Layla Lopez did not feature for Oral Roberts in either game this week.
Oregon State (Katie Godden)
This week: lost 6-0 to UCLA; lost 4-0 to Southern California
Katie Godden started both games for Oregon State this week, playing 37 minutes against UCLA before registering two shots on target in 69 minutes of action against USC.
Pacific (Libby Davy)
This week: defeated San Diego 1-0
Libby Davy did not feature in Pacific’s win over San Diego.
Rider (Eloise Jones)
This week: defeated Manhattan 2-1
Eloise Jones did not feature in Rider’s win over Manhattan.
Siena (Iona Snape)
This week: drew 1-1 with Niagara
Iona Snape started in Siena’s win over Niagara, playing 67 minutes and tallying a shot.
Southern Illinois (Chantelle Symes)
This week: lost 1-0 to Belmont; drew 0-0 with Indiana St.
Chantelle Symes played the full 90 minutes for Southern Illinois in both games this week, making four saves against Belmont but not being tested even a single time against Indiana State, keeping a clean sheet without making a save.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Molly Arens)
This week: defeated Southeastern La. 1-0; defeated Nicholls 2-0
Molly Arens started both games for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this week, registering two shots with one on target in 52 minutes of action against Southeastern Louisiana and scoring with one of her three shots in 73 minutes of action against Nicholls State.
UAB (Abbey Burns)
This week: lost 1-0 to South Fla.
Abbey Burns played the full 90 minutes in UAB’s loss to South Florida, tallying a shot on target.
UMBC (Isobel Davy, Annaliese Grove)
This week: lost 3-0 to Vermont
Annie Grove started for UMBC in their loss to Vermont, playing 31 minutes. Isy Davy did not feature for the Retrievers.
UNC Asheville (Jasmine Barry)
This week: defeated South Carolina St. 6-1
Jasmine Barry came off the bench in UNC Asheville’s win over South Carolina State, playing 24 minutes.
USC (Talia Grossman)
This week: defeated Oregon 3-0; defeated Oregon St. 4-0
Talia Grossman did not feature for USC in either game this week.
VCU (Greta Kraszula)
This week: lost 1-0 to Dayton
Greta Kraszula started in VCU’s loss to Dayton, playing an hour.
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