Casey Pecock played against Missisippi Valey State and the Lady Lions won with a final score 2-1.
The Lion's Roar/Jonathan Rhodes

The Lady Lions split two non-conference games getting a win at home in their first game at Strawberry Stadium this season against Mississippi Valley State 2-1 on Friday and a loss on the road against University of Louisiana at Lafayette 3-1 on Sunday.

Sophomore Sofia Olsson and junior midfielder Maddie Kresevic scored their first goals of the season in the game against MVSU. The two goals were made after the Delta Devils went up one goal early in the first half.

Kresevic made the game clinching goal with less than 10 minutes to go in the second half.

“I thought we found that one opportunity that we really needed in the second half to win the game,” said soccer Head Coach Blake Hornbuckle. “Maddie Kresevic did a very good job to get on the end of the ball. She came up from the back onto the midfield and ran a lot of balls, distributed and got in for the deciding goal.”  

Junior midfielder Maggie Ramsey and sophomore defender Christina Cutura dished out the saves. Senior Hope Sabadash had only one save in the game due to strong defense by the Lady Lions.

“We kept pressing to our goal,” said Hornbuckle. “We played an extremely hard-working, gritty Mississippi Valley State team. A lot of credit goes to them for their work tonight. On Sunday, we will face a pretty tough Louisiana Lafayette team. Our preparations have already begun.”

Neither team scored in the first half in the game at UL Lafayette. The Lady Lions took the lead in the second half after Ramsey made her team-leading third goal of the season.

The Ragin Cajuns proceeded to score three goals before the end of the second to take the game. 

Senior forward Casey Peacock recorded her first assist of the season and Sabadash had six saves putting her in third place on the Lady Lions career list with 314 passing up Nicole Helmig.

“I think it was really necessary for us to get a win under our belt,” said Kresevic. “We are going into the remainder of preseason before we start conference games. If we play with fire and desire, we will be ready.”

The Lady Lions will face in-state rival Southern University at Baton Rouge this Thursday at 7 p.m. The following Sunday they will face Georgia State University in Strawberry Stadium at 1 p.m.