Oct. 26, 2013
Final Stats
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Coastal Carolina women's soccer team suffered another tough one-goal defeat Saturday afternoon, falling on the road at Liberty 1-0.
Liberty's Rebecca Smith scored in the 83rd minute to give the Flames the victory. It was the sixth loss for the Chanticleers by a single goal this season, with four of them coming in overtime or the last 10 minutes of regulation.
Coastal fell to 9-8-1 overall and 6-4-0 in the Big South. Liberty improved to 12-5-1 and 7-2-1 in the conference while securing at least fourth place in the conference.
Needing at least a tie to help their chances of hosting a quarterfinal game of the Big South Tournament, the Chanticleers tried to keep the game scoreless as Liberty maintained offensive pressure for much of the second half.
Megan Spencer kept the Flames off the board for most of the half with solid play in goal. She tipped a shot by Flames' leading scorer Brittany Aanderud over the crossbar in the 50th minute. The senior goalkeeper then made an alert play in the 64th minute, coming out to block a shot from just to the left of the six-yard box after Liberty's Julia Delgatti had gotten by two Coastal defenders with a move near the touch line. In the 79th minute, Helena Pereira took a shot from the middle of the box, but a Chanticleer defender was able to block it away.
However, the Flames broke through with 7:34 left to play when Smith converted a rebound in front. Aanderud one-timed a low cross from the right side off the near post and the ball richocheted to Smith in a crowd in front and she put home her third goal of the season.
Coastal was able to get two shots off after that as it tried to tie it. However, both were long attempts, including one by Fia Jonsson in the final minute that was grabbed by Liberty goalkeeper Holly Van Noord.
Liberty had a 26-11 shot advantage in the game, though it was just a 9-6 edge in attempts on goal. Spencer had a strong game with eight saves, her second-highest total of the season. The Flames had five corner kicks to four for the Chants.
Playing against a brisk wind in the first half, Coastal had some early opportunities in the first 10 minutes. Jonsson put a free kick from the top of the box on goal and Kacey Kelley uncorked a long shot from the right wing that forced Liberty Van Noord to tip the ball over the crossbar. Sam Patterson then headed one off a cross toward the far post, forcing a diving stop by Van Noord.
However, Liberty started to control play after that and the wind helped keep the ball in Coastal's defensive half. The Flames totaled 13 shots in the first 45 minutes, although most of them were taken outside the 18-yard box and only three were on goal. Liberty did hit the crossbar with one attempt in front in the 17th minute.
Coastal wraps up the regular-season at home Tuesday, October 29 against Charleston Southern. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Prior to the game, the Chanticleers will honor seniors Spencer, Alyssa Clark, Amanda Clark as they play their final regular-season home contest.
