Demon Deacons declaw Cougars, Wildcats
By Lisa Ferguson
Old Gold and Black Reporter

Senior defender Stacy Roeck scored with four minutes remaining in overtime as the women’s soccer team took down the Brigham Young Cougars, continuing its four-game winning streak Oct. 6 in what was one of the most exciting games Spry Stadium has seen this year.

After a scoreless first overtime period, the Deacs finally broke through with four minutes left in the second, as Roeck scored the game-winner, her second goal of the game.

Junior defender Gabi Lieb and junior forward Joline Charlton assisted Roeck.

“The team responded really well to going down early. We never gave up. We knew if we kept up the intensity, we’d get the goals we needed,” said Roeck.

The Deacs started the match off strong as senior forward Emily Taggart dribbled through the Cougar defense and scored in the third minute. The Cougars responded quickly, when forward Kim Divine scored off a free kick in the 14th minute. Two minutes later, midfielder Aleisha Cramer scored on a corner kick with an assist from Kimmie Davis, propelling the Cougars to a 2-1 lead. Although the Deacs did not score again in the first half, they kept the Cougars on their feet, placing 14 shots on goal as opposed to the Cougars’ four.

“The longer the game went, the harder it was mentally, but it was our best attacking game the whole year,” Head Coach Tony da Luz said.

In the ninth minute of the second half, senior midfielder Sarah Kate Noftsinger played the ball through Cougar defense to Roeck, who took on goalkeeper Jennifer Waldron, coming away with her third goal of the season and tying up the game. The rest of the second half was a fast-paced game with the Deacs and Cougars pounding in shots and corner kicks. Neither team was able to put one in, pushing the game into sudden death.

Not only did the game bring up the Deacs’ record to a solid 4-3-1, but also brings Taggart up to 23 goals, five goals away from being all-time leading scorer in Demon Deacon and leaves Roeck, this year’s leading scorer, close behind with 21 career goals.
“The fact that we went into overtime and stayed in is great,” da Luz said. “It was the best team effort of the year. Game MVP goes to Stacy Roeck who had great composure with the ball. (Sophomores) A.B. Robbins and Alena Thom were very steady defensively, and (Melissa Murray) Hobbs, subbing in as sweeper did a great job. Our passing was better than ever.”

The Deacons also defeated Davidson on Oct. 9, ripping the Wildcats, 6-0. Taggart notched a hat trick in the match, putting her within two goals of being the programs all-time leading scorer. Thom, freshman Sara Creighton and sophomore Katherine Winstead also added goals, as the Deacons upped their record to 5-3-1.

The Deacs will host Tulane on Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Spry Stadium and then travel to Chapel Hill Oct. 14 to play the top-ranked Tarheels who are undefeated this season.

The Deacons are also hosting Soccer For America on Oct. 13 from 3-6 p.m. with the men’s soccer team. The Deacs will have mini-tournaments, activities and refreshments prior to the men’s game at 7 p.m. with Old Dominion at Spry Stadium. All proceeds go to New York Police and Firewidow’s and Children’s Fund.