ATHENS, Tenn. – An early go-ahead goal by
Isabella Hodson set the tone for No. 6 Truett McConnell women's soccer in a 2-0 win over (RV) Tennessee Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon.
The Burton, England product added her fifth and sixth goal of the season, marking her second multi-goal game. She also increases her season point total to 13 with six goals and an assist.
Both teams had nine shots, with TMU having more shots on goal with six compared to TWU's three. In the foul category, both sides were even with eight whistles each, but the home team collected more yellow cards with three as opposed to Truett's one.
Hodson wasted no time in the fourth minuteas she advanced from the right side and received a cross pass from
Isabelle Allen, which created a shooting lane. The senior did not miss as the Lady Bears captured the early 1-0 lead.
Both teams settled into the game from there, with the only shots coming from a TWU header in the 14
th minute and a shot in the 25
th, which was kept out by
Erin Ward. TMU had a chance after the save but was caught offside. After three fouls by the Lady Bears in five minutes, Tennessee Wesleyan had a corner opportunity, but a foul on the home team eliminated the chance.
On the counterattack,
Agathe Braud forced a shot to the bottom-right corner of the net, but the attempt was stopped by keeper Ana Martinez, keeping the one goal margin. Both teams had a shot chance in the 39
th and 40
th minute, but both went off target. A blocked shot taken by TWU summed up the action for the first half as Truett remained on top 1-0 at the break.
The Lady Bulldogs forced pressure early in the second as a shot attempt sailed wide of the net. With the away team on the attack in the 54
th minute, Hodson held the ball from the right side again and was able to out-maneuver a defender and line a shot past the keeper. Her second goal of the game put the Lady Bears up 2-0.
After a wide shot by the home team in the 62
nd minute, Truett applied constant pressure in the next ten minutes, forcing four total shots with two on target. From 70:00 to 80:00, the home team put forward two shots, both of which sailed wide.
With Braud receiving a yellow card, a TWU shot on target was saved by
Noa del Rio, who collected her second consecutive shutout. A single shot by Hodson, saved by the keeper, was the only offense for the rest of the game with the home team taking two yellow cards in the final six minutes of action. The two-goal lead held firm as TMU notched the win.
Women's soccer is back in action this Saturday at the TMU Soccer Complex with a 11 a.m. kickoff time vs. Union Commonwealth on Saturday, Sept. 26.
