MOREHEAD, Ky. – The first meeting against former assistant coach Mark Sappington did not go as planned as the Morehead State women's soccer team fell at Cleveland State 3-0 on Sunday at Krenzler Field.
It was the final non-conference contest of the season for both teams, as well as Senior Day for the Vikings.
"Really bad day at the office. We are looking to put the non-conference slate behind us and focus on OVC (Ohio Valley Conference) play," said MSU head coach
Paul Cox. "We are looking to be more productive in conference play."
Cleveland State (3-3-1) scored in the 36th, 39th and 77th minutes and improved to 2-1-1 at home this fall by extending its undefeated streak to three games. Morehead State (2-7-0) dropped its third straight contest and fifth in a row on the road.
The Eagles had a few chances to get on the scoreboard.
Senior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero had a wide-open attempt from the left corner of the goal box at 10:59 that went left of the goal. The Eagles appeared to score off a corner kick at 82:02, but it was waved off because of a foul committed against the goalkeeper. About four minutes earlier, freshman defender
Faith Peper won a ball in the air against two defenders, took three dribbles and from 9-yards out, on a 1v1 with the keeper, shot the ball over the crossbar.
MSU finished with 11 shots but just one was officially on goal.
The hosts opened the scoring at 35:35 after stealing the ball on the defensive side of the field. Olivia Cruz then unleashed a shot 18 yards out from the right corner of the penalty box that went inside the upper left post past diving sophomore goalkeeper
Claire Cress. Mayra Sesmas was credited with an assist on the play.
At 38:14, Emma Pompo sent a cross from the right corner to the center of the field, where Sesmas headed it to the feet of Ryleigh Alcala, who used her left foot to kick it over the line from a few steps away as Cress dove the other direction.
The Vikings solidified the scoring after True Benshoff took a shot that was saved, but not controlled, by Cress. The ball bounced around where it found Alcala, who passed it to Tanji Sarver. Just off the line, Sarver's first shot hit the crossbar. Then she got the rebound and kicked it back in at the left post virtually standing on the goal line at the left post at 76:11.
Cleveland State finished with a 21-11 edge in shots. Both teams took four corner kicks. CSU had one more foul (10-9) and two more offside calls (3-1). Both also had one yellow card.
Peck led the team with two shots. Sesmas topped all players with six. Cruz added four.
Cress finished with seven saves while falling to 2-7-0. Elyse Broderick had one save and improved to 2-0-0.
The Vikings held the ball for 56 percent of the afternoon and spent 56 percent of that time on the attack. MSU spent 39 percent of its possession holding the ball in the CSU defensive zone.
Morehead State will open Ohio Valley Conference play against Western Illinois next Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be Senior Day for the Eagles, as they will recognize midfielders Kamryn and
Kennedy Baquero, and
Karissa Vela.
