Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Missouri State University
Racers Open Season With 2-1 Win Over Southwest Missouri State
8/29/2003 5:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
After a scoreless first half, MSU (1-0) opened the scoring as freshman forward Lacey Latimer (Murray, Ky.) gave the Racers a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute on a 10-foot header.
Fioranelli, from Collierville, Tenn., added MSU's second goal less than five minutes later, before SMS (0-1) cut the lead to 2-1 on a goal by Caroline Rooker in the 79th minute.
MSU survived a couple of close plays inside the final minutes to hang on for the win over the Missouri Valley Conference member.
"Overall, this is a very good for us because we really had to tough this one out," said fourth-year MSU head coach Mike Minielli. "Last year, one of our main weaknesses was our inability to find a way to win this kind of game, but we did that today."
Senior goalkeeper Karen Fitzharris (Bellbrook, Ohio) had nine saves while playing all 90 minutes for MSU.
MSU played without one of its stronger offensive players, junior forward Kristin Robertson, who is out recovering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in the spring, and the Racers' offense struggled for much of the day.
"We've got to improve on the offensive end," said Minielli. "Southwest Missouri has the reputation of being a strong defensive squad, but I really think our biggest problem today was us. We just never got in a rhythm and our passing was not very good, but we still found a way to win. That's important this early in the year."
The game was delayed for one hour in the 42nd minute due to lightning near Cutchin Field.
MSU will take to the road to play another MVC team, Western Illinois, Sunday at 1 p.m. in Macomb, Ill.
