Lady Buccaneers clip Chattanooga

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR CORRESPONDENT
wholtsclaw@starhq.com

   The East Tennessee State Lady Buccaneer soccer team's delivery service, fronted by Elizabeth Smith, brought a better package than FedEx.
   Tied 1-1 at the 88:30 mark in the second period, ETSU's Erin Ashton was taken down inside the box, leading to a penalty kick.
   Elizabeth Smith took the kick, and she made it over Rawlslyn Ray to give the Lady Bucs (6-7-1, 3-4-1) a 2-1 victory over Chattanooga (6-6-1, 2-5-1) at Liberty Bell on Sunday afternoon.
   It was a thrilling come-from-behind effort by the Lady Bucs, who were down early to the Lady Mocs.
   Early in the first period of play, Chatanooga got some nice shots flowing from Laura O'Dowd and Diana Jallo.
   But a nice shot by Sari Laukka hit a bar and was taken by teammate Almelia Fogleburg, who nailed in the first point close to the nine-minute mark.
   ETSU goalie Heather Sanden followed with 10 saves throughout the contest, not allowing the Lady Mocs another score.
   The contest went both ways throughout the remainder of the first period, with ETSU not getting many shots off.
   Things began to change in the second period, as Jennifer Fields and Ericka de Paula battled for the Lady Bucs downfield. A nice pass from de Paula set up a goal from Erin Ashton early in the period to tie the contest at 1-all.
   It was an interesting battle throughout the remainder of the game, as both teams showed class and effort in an attempt to regain the lead.
   Several good shots were taken by Chattanooga, but good defensive ploys from ETSU's Kerri Burke, Erica Odom and Audrea Brown was simply more than the Lady Mocs could bargin for.
   But just as Chatanooga began to rally back, they were caught when Smith was set up for her penalty kick, giving ETSU a 2-1 win.
   "We didn't organize our attack as well as we have in the past," said ETSU head coach Heather Henson. "Chattanooga is a strong team, they are very solid players."
   Chattanooga led in shots by period, with 22 compared to ETSU's 10, and delivered six corner kicks to the Lady Bucs' one. Both goalies played a complete contest, but Heather Sanden came away with the win.
   ETSU had 14 fouls in the contest, but delivered no offsides plays. The Lady Bucs travel to Georgia Southern this Friday for a 3 p.m. matchup.