Soccer Falls In Racer Classic Opener Against USF

Friday, August 27

Murray, Ky.

4:30 p.m.

Murray State

USF

Photo by: Kevin Weaks

8/27/2010 8:24:51 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

The Murray State women's soccer team dropped the opening contest of the Racer Classic in a 4-2 defeat to USF Friday afternoon at Cutchin Field in its first home match of the season.

"The girls pushed hard and I saw some good things out there today," MSU coach Beth Acreman said. "We took another step forward, but I'm still not satisfied until we can get a win against a quality team like USF. For us, we're at the stage where we need to compete against good teams from the big conferences. Our team challenged USF and we were able to create some chances. It's the small things that hurt us and you cannot win like that. I keep preaching to not make the game more difficult or complicated."

Chelsea Klotz tallied her first of two goals for the Bulls on the afternoon in the 41st minute to give South Florida a 1-0 lead heading into the break.

After USF (2-0-0) increased its lead to two after halftime, Maja Nordahl cut it to one off a feed from Rachel Wright to score a brilliant goal from 35 yards out that found the upper right corner of the net in the 68th minute. It was just the second career goal of the junior defender's career and MSU's first of the season.

"We teach to look at the keeper and we saw the kind of shot Maja hit could have a chance," said Acreman "We have some good players who can try it from 25 yards or more out. Maja's shot was a bender and she hit it into the upper right corner, a perfect shot."

Klotz recorded her second goal just two minutes later to build the lead up to two, and USF put the match out of reach in the 84th minute after two consecutive shots proceeded to ricochet off the left post and crossbar before being scored for the fourth goal of the match.

Sophie Hargreaves added one final goal for the Racers in the last minute, findind the back of the net from around 25 yards out as she placed it above the outstretched arms of the keeper in the center of the goal.

MSU (0-1-2) was outshot 18-12 in the match with the Bulls putting nine shots on net to the Racers' four.

The Racers return to Cutchin Field Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2:30 p.m. in the final match of the Racer Classic against Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs were defeated 9-1 by Southeastern Missouri in the second game Friday.