By Alan Wiederhold-Sohn
HT Athletic Communications
AUSTIN – The Red River Athletic Conference's first-place squad proved to be too much for Huston-Tillotson University's women's soccer team Saturday, as the Rams fell 4-1 to the visiting Gold Nuggets of Xavier (La.).
Though moral victories are far less enjoyable than actual triumphs, the Rams could hold their heads high after the final whistle after giving one of their better performances of the season against one of the NAIA's top offenses. The match was close for all but the final waning minutes, when the Nuggets added two insurance goals at the end of the contest.
Furthermore, the Rams accomplished something that Xavier's (11-3-1, 10-0-1 RRAC) previous 10 conference opponents have failed to do. Namely, the Rams forced the Gold Nuggets to play from behind and attempt to erase their opponent's lead.
HT senior
America Macias converted a penalty kick roughly 10 minutes into the match, after she was tackled by Xavier goalkeeper Luisa Bella near the edge of the penalty area. Though the tackle was not violent, Bella's obstruction of a quality scoring chance gave the Rams the penalty kick.
The approximate half-hour the Rams held the lead marked the first time in Xavier's 11 conference matches in which the Gold Nuggets trailed. Xavier shut out their opponents in eight of their previous nine conference victories, netted the first three goals in a 4-2 win at LSU–Shreveport, and scored first in their 1-1 draw with Our Lady of the Lake.
However, it was only matter of time before the team ranked eighth in the NAIA in goals scored would find the back of the net. The Nuggets equalized in the 40th minute when Samira Roper headed in a perfect corner kick from teammate Gabriela Gonzalez; it was Roper's RRAC-leading 16th goal of the season.
After the teams headed into halftime tied at 1-1, Julia de Souza claimed the match-winning goal for the Nuggets in the 66th minute off a pass from Alina Paiz.
Though the Rams were outshot 25-10, they were not without chances for a second goal. Macias was denied her second goal of the match in the 50th minute when her long free kick was kept out of the top of the net by a great jumping save from Bella.
Shakiana Dagher and Lanettia Aikens scored the final two goals for Xavier. Freshman goalkeeper
Juliet Morales-Martinez made 10 saves for the Rams (3-9-1, 2-7-1 RRAC), one save away from her collegiate career high.
Though their chances of qualifying for the RRAC Tournament are fading, the Rams are still in contention for one of the eight postseason berths. HT is only one-and-a-half games behind Jarvis Christian and Texas A&M–San Antonio, which are tied for eighth place on the conference table.
Additionally, the Rams have an extra match in hand over their conference opponents, as a scheduling mishap two weeks prior meant that winless Paul Quinn College failed to show up in time for their scheduled match in Austin. A forfeit win or a replay that greatly favors the Rams could help HT's cause.
Meanwhile, the Rams have a chance to gain ground on one of the teams they're chasing as they visit Texas A&M–San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Texas A&M–San Antonio campus.
– HT –
