MOREHEAD – For the first 15 minutes of Sunday's home game, Morehead State looked like the best soccer team in the Ohio Valley Conference, scoring less than three minutes into its contest with Little Rock at the MSU Soccer Field. However, that changed quickly, and for the remaining 75 minutes, the visitors had all the answers as the Trojans came away with a 2-1 win.
Defensive miscues ended up costing the Eagles dearly.
"(A) really disappointing result. We came out flying and scored early and had momentum and we didn't capitalize on that positive start," MSU coach Paul Cox said. "The goals we conceded were avoidable and that's why this is a difficult loss to take. But we will dust ourselves off and get ready for a big week."
One issue that turned out not to be a problem was the weather. Although overcast and drizzly all game, the heavy storms expected from Hurricane Helene did not materialize.
Morehead State (5-4-3/2-1-0) out-shot Little Rock (5-5-2/2-0-1) 15-11, took more corner kicks 6-3, held the ball longer 52 percent to 48 percent, and spent 56 percent of the time with the ball on the Trojans' side of the field, yet it still came out on the short end.
Sophomore forward
Hedda Ornberg added to her team-leading goal tally after taking a pass that originated from junior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero, and went through freshman defender
Ella Fuller, and put it in the back of the net just 2:57 into the game.
MSU had control of the ball with four successive Eagles touching it after a throw in, before it found its way to Baquero, who brought it through the middle of the field and passed it off to Fuller on the left side. Fuller's one-touch found a charging Ornberg, who ran into the middle of the box and from nine yards out redirected it into the top left corner of the net.
Morehead State had five shots and two corner kicks in the first 10 minutes before Little Rock mounted its first serious attack. But, once Candice Kilderry got off the Trojans' first shot at the 14:47 mark, the entire complexion of the game changed.
Kilderry got her team's first goal at the 22:57 mark after she found herself wide open eight yards from the net. Maria Schuller's one-touch pass got to Abbie Smith, who took one dribble and crossed the ball from the left flank to the center of the field, where Kilderry chested the ball into the air, kneed it, turned and, as the ball hit her left foot, laced a hard, clean shot on the ground into the right corner of the goal.
MSU had some point-blank chances later in the period but could not convert, and the two teams went into halftime tied 1-1.
The Eagles had a pair of shot attempts early in the second half, but Little Rock went ahead for good after Megan Rogan's shot slipped right off the hands of MSU freshman goaltender
Lilly Bailey, over her head and into the back of the net at 54:07. Jaeda Centeno was credited with the assist.
From the right side, Centeno played the ball to the middle of the field on the right side of the penalty box arc, where Rogan took one dribble and kicked it toward the net from about 19 yards out.
From that point, MSU feverishly tried to tie the score, but everything seemed to be directly at Little Rock goalkeeper Peyton Urban, who finished the day with five saves.
The result ended Morehead State's season-best, four-game unbeaten streak, dropped it to 2-2-1 at home, gave it its first setback in a match this season in which it scored at least once (5-1-3) and denied it a chance to go 3-0 in the OVC for just the second time in school history. It also snapped a four-game win streak against Little Rock and sent it to its first home defeat in the series.
Morehead State held advantages in shots (15-11), shots on goal (6-3) and corner kicks (6-3). The Trojans had more fouls (9-7) and more saves (5-1). Both teams were issued one yellow card and MSU had the lone offside call.
The Eagles also held a 52-48 edge in possession, with the Blue and Gold keeping the ball on the UALR side of the field for 56 percent of the time, compared to 44 percent on their own end. The visitors were on the attack 49 percent of the time they had possession but had it on their side of the field 51 percent of the time.
Ornberg finished with a team season-high seven shots, including matching another squad best four on goal. Fuller and sophomore midfielder
Mary Trudeau each added two shots. Amaya Arias led the Trojans with three shots. Kilderry and Schuller both contributed a pair.
In the net, Bailey made one save, while playing 90 minutes for the fifth straight game. She fell to 2-2-2 with the decision. Urban had five saves for UALR. Her record improved to 5-5-2.
MSU will look to regroup as it heads south for a two-game road trip beginning with a match against defending regular-season champion Tennessee Tech on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, before traveling to Martin, Tenn., for a battle with the Skyhawks next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The Eagles' next home game will be Homecoming and Alumni Weekend, when they face Southern Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.
