Cooper's Brace Fuels Racers in Victory Over Belmont

Friday, March 12

Murray, Ky.

1 P.M.

Murray State

4-0-0, 4-0-0

Belmont

1-3-0, 1-3-0

Belmont

Murray St.

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

3/12/2021 5:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Two goals from Symone Cooper and another from Rebecca Kubin secure a 3-1 Racer victory

Murray State women's soccer returned home to host Belmont in another pivotal OVC match on Friday afternoon in front of Racer faithful at Cutchin Field. Outshooting the Bruins 19-6 on the day, the Racers improved to 4-0 on the season with a 3-1 victory in Murray, Kentucky.

"It was a solid performance. I think that, when you control the tempo of the game over the course of 90 minutes, you're going to be happy. Three times in a row now we've had to come back and fight and find our groove. We still need to fix that – I want to see some clean sheets, but when you have players that can score at will it helps," said MSU head coach Matt Lodge.

Belmont (1-3) struck first when Grace Parsons scored off a pass from Erin Patterson, but the Racers would equalize before the halftime break when Rebecca Kubin got on the end of a ball from Abby Jones before cutting inside and overpowering the Bruin goalkeeper with a shot from inside the penalty area to make it 1-1 in the 31^st minute.

While the score line showed an even game through the first 45, the Racers outshot the Bruins 8-4 while owning 58% of possession through one half of action.

The Racers took control in the second half and wouldn't look back, going in front in the 61^st minute when Symone Cooper's header from an Abby Jones corner kick made it 2-1 in favor of Murray State.

MSU continued to dominate possession, and would put the game away in the 89^th minute when Cooper found the net again with a stunning goal from 45 yards out to make it 3-1 in the game's closing moments off a pass from Grace Bodker.

The box score showed another dominant performance as the Racers allowed just one attempt on goal, while generating 10 for themselves and holding 60% of the possession on the day.
"Our back four has been fantastic…Saraya Young and Audrey Henry have really created a great partnership back there," added Lodge.

For Cooper, her brace is the first and second goals of the season as the Loganville, Georgia native brings her career total to six in a Racer uniform. She also becomes the seventh different MSU player to score a goal in the new campaign.

"We scored three really good goals. I'm not sure which goal was better for Symone. It was a really good performance from everyone today," concluded Lodge.

For Kubin, her goal brings her season total to a team-best three on the year as the senior moves into a tie for fifth with Jackie Thomas (2000-03) on Murray State's all-time scoring list with 25 career goals.

Abby Jones, who became the Racers' all-time assist leader in the previous match against UT Martin, distanced herself from the #2 spot with two more in today's contest.

For Bodker, the assist is the first of her career.

The Racers return to action on Tuesday when they host Austin Peay in a Battle of the Border rivalry match at Cutchin Field. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.

"It was a solid performance. I think that, when you control the tempo of the game over the course of 90 minutes, you're going to be happy."

Thoughts from head coach Matt Lodge after Murray State's 3-1 victory over Belmont on Friday ⚽️ #WeAreRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/wzLyp6XpSP
— Murray State Soccer (@RacerSoccer) March 12, 2021