Tatiana Ariza and Morgan Zigelsky Dominating in the Game
APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer
Clarksville, TN – A five-goal first half from Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team got the Lady Govs out to a fast start against Alabama A&M, Sunday. Austin Peay (4-5-0) defeated the Bulldogs, 6-1, for the Lady Govs third victory in a row against the SWAC foe.
Zigelsky repaid the favor to her teammate in the eighth minute, assisting on Ariza’s third goal of the season. Ariza beat the keeper to the lower right corner, putting the Lady Govs up two and tying her with Ashley Beck (2005-08) for most career goals in Austin Peay history with 30.
Zigelsky scored again on a breakaway in the 13th minute, which ties her with Ariza, senior Emily Perkins and junior Andy Quiceno for the team lead with three goals apiece this season.
Alabama A&M (0-9-0) got one back in the 17th minute on a long goal by Ana Huertas but the Lady Govs would answer. Junior Joceline Quiceno netted her season’s second goal in the 40th minute, firing a shot from just outside the box.
“Alabama A&M was resilient,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “They didn’t quit and I felt like we got comfortable early and that’s why we gave up a goal. I wasn’t particularly pleased with that; we need to play sharp and execute our game plan no matter who we play.”
Freshman Melissa Fletcher added the final first-half goal just over a minute later on a breakaway. The goal was the first of Fletcher’s Lady Govs career.
The Lady Govs were aggressive almost to a fault at times against the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M played with a high backline, resulting in a season-high 12 offsides calls against Austin Peay.
“That’s something we hadn’t seen before today,” Guth said. “We are used to making very dangerous runs and attacking on the dribble and that wasn’t there today. All the offsides calls means we were being aggressive and wanting to attack; we just have to be smarter about our positioning.”
Junior Corey Osborn capped off the scoring similar to how it started. A long shot from the left side of the box sailed over the keeper’s head and into the net, resulting in Osborn’s first career goal.
Ariza narrowly missed becoming the all-time goal-scoring record-holder in the second half. A misplay by the keeper gave Ariza a good look inside the box, but an Alabama A&M defender threw her body in front of the shot and kept it out of the net.
Austin Peay junior Haylee Shoaff made one save to earn her season’s third victory. Marissa Oehler made four saves in the second half for the Bulldogs.
The Lady Govs open Ohio Valley Conference play when they host Murray State at 2:00pm, Sunday.
