BOONE, N.C. — Junior goalkeeper Sam Steyl made a career-high nine saves on Friday afternoon, but unfortunately, Appalachian State University women's soccer wasn't able to hang onto the lead, falling 3-2 to Little Rock at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.
"I'm proud of the girls for finishing two great opportunities and for Sam to have made so many saves," head coach Sarah Strickland said. "We had some great moments as a team and then identified things we need to correct next week. We will get back after it and prepare for Georgia Southern next Sunday."
Despite the muggy, constant rain, the Mountaineers (6-7-2, 1-4-2 Sun Belt) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Trojans (8-6, 3-3 Sun Belt), but would overall be outshot on the day 28-13, a rarity for Appalachian. It's only the fifth time all season and first in four games that App State has been outshot.
Appalachian came out of the gates ramming the ball toward the opposing goal, firing a bunch of shots early and forcing the issue on Little Rock's backline. The Mountaineers first goal came in the 14th minute when redshirt sophomore Erin Settle broke away from the pack to go one on two with Little Rock. The Trojans' goalkeeper dove in front of Settle but the ball ricocheted off the defender away from the goal, giving Settle an empty net to fire upon.
The Black and Gold's second goal came in the 30th minute when junior Kelly Flanders fired in her first career goal on a wicked curve out of her corner kick.Â
Little Rock would score one goal in the first half to close the gap in th 41st minute when Doro Greulich fired in one into the top left after making a nice move over the middle. The Trojans would find the back of the net two more times to win, having the equalizer come in the 66th minute as Shannon Shields found Arola Aparicio Gili on a breakaway and the game-winner in the 109th minute when Quin Wilkes found Shannon Shields on another flicker pass ahead of the pack, just edging it in.
Leading the App State shot effort in her first start as a Mountaineer was redshirt junior Sharon Osterbind. She finished with three shots total and two on goal. Behind her was Settle (two total, two on goal) and senior Jane Cline, Flanders and redshirt sophomore Sarah Peatross (two total, one on goal).
Rounding out the attack was junior Morgan Mosack and sophomore Emmily Cowie who each had one shot apiece.
Steyl played the entire 109 minutes in the game between the frames, making the nine saves, facing 28 shots and allowing just the three goals.
The Mountaineers will have just over a week off before preparing for the final stretch of the regular season. Their next game is on Sunday, Oct. 16 at Georgia Southern with a kickoff time slated for 1 p.m.
