AUSTIN, Texas – Opening the spring season on the road, the Angelo State women's soccer team picked up a big victory over St. Edward's, winning 1-0 in nonconference play at the Lewis-Chen Family Field on Wednesday.
 
The Belles begin the season 1-0 for the fourth year in a row as Emily Keoughan scored the game-winner in the closing seconds of the first half. SEU, who was selected to finish second overall in the conference standings, begins its season at 0-1.
 
The Hilltoppers applied some early pressure in the game, sending a through ball into the box before Cassidy Hill cleared it for ASU. They came right back, this time getting a shot off but was once again blocked, this time by Kylie Hampton.
 
On the other side of the field, the Belles began their attack as Avery McNeme dibbled down the right side of the field before sending in a cross to Valerie Solis who snuck behind the defense but couldn't get a foot on the high pass. Moments later, McNeme sent another cross into the box as SEU's keeper charged out to collect the pass.
 
SEU had an opportunity to score after a foul by ASU gave the Hilltoppers a free kick, launching a shot at the corner of the net before a diving save by Casey Crawford kept the score even.
 
Crawford earned a shutout victory in her first collegiate match, collecting three saves on the day.
 
The Hilltoppers continued to pressure the Belles, moving the ball quickly down the field but the efforts of Angelo State's backline disrupted SEU's offense.
 
"The first half I thought we played much better, the second half we wanted to open up the game a little bit, play more side to side and that didn't happen much to SEU's credit," said Head Coach Travis McCorkle. "Our backline did a great job, Hill and Kylie Hampton played well and it was great for Crawford to get the shutout in her first match"
 
Midway through the first half, the Belles added a few chances as Solis stole a pass in the midfield before dribbling just outside of the box and hitting a shot that landed just in reach of the keeper. After a bad clear by St. Edward's landed in front of the goal, Madison Stokes charged on the ball but couldn't get a clean hit as the match remained scoreless.
 
As the final minute of the first period ticked down, Mia Czarnecki controlled the ball at midfield before sending a pass down the left side of the field to Cindy Rodriguez who crossed the ball to Keoughan for the goal, sliding the ball just under the keeper.
 
"Stokes stood out to me in the first half, her ability to step in and stop St. Edwards' counter-attack was really good," added McCorkle. "The timing of our goal in the final 15 seconds shows our mentality as a team, not to give up in the closing moments and I really like that.
 
The Belles carried the momentum into the second half as they pushed the ball into their attacking third, allowing Stokes to add to the lead as she hit a shot on goal but couldn't get past SEU's keeper.
 
As the Hilltoppers countered offensively, Crawford kept the lead for her team, recording another save just over 10 minutes into the second half. St. Edward's took another shot moments later, passing the ball into the box before sending the shot just left of the posts.
 
In the 72^nd minute, SEU intercepted a pass before charging down the right side of the field, getting past the backline of ASU, and sent a shot that rolled just wide once again.
 
The Belles nearly scored another goal in the final minutes of the match, hitting three more shots on target, all ending in saves.
 
Angelo State totaled 12 shots in the game with six landing on goal while SEU finished the game with nine shots, three on goal, and collected five saves.
 
"In the second half, I don't think we moved the ball on offense enough, we were just ready to defend but I think there was a second goal we could have gotten to take the pressure off so we'll look at that on film and make the need adjustments to get a good performance against Lubbock Christian on Saturday."
 
The Belles continue action on Saturday as they host their first game of the season, taking on Lubbock Christian at the ASU Soccer Fields at 2 p.m.