Relentless Attack Lifts Racers Over Morehead State in Season Opener

Tuesday, March 2

Morehead, Ky.

2 P.M.

Murray State

1-0 (1-0OVC)

Morehead State

0-1 (0-1OVC)

Team	1	2	Final F
Murray State	2	1	3
Morehead State	0	1	1

Relentless Attack Lifts Racers Over Morehead State in Season Opener

3/2/2021 7:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Racers earn a 3-1 victory in their first match in 480 days

Murray State women's soccer took the pitch in a competitive match for the first time in 480 days when they traveled to Morehead State for an afternoon clash with the Eagles on Tuesday. The Racers made their return in style, generating three goals behind 11 shots on the day as they cruised to a 3-1 victory in Morehead, Kentucky.

"It's been almost five hundred days between games, and we knew it was going to be a scrap, but now we can breathe. I think we found today that we have a team that's willing to scrap and do the dirty work. On the road in this conference, it's very difficult. We proved today that we can grind out results when maybe the passes aren't as crisp. We'll find a way to get a result," said MSU head coach Matt Lodge.

After coming on as a substitute in the 19^th minute, sophomore Lilly Strader delivered a perfectly-weighted ball behind back line that would be tucked away neatly by Rebecca Kubin to give the Racers a 1-0 advantage in the 24^th minute.

"It was Kubs being Kubs. Her pace is always going to cause problems. She's worked hard on her finishing, and she took that goal really well. She looks mature and looks like a leader. I think the younger players are really learning from her, which will be huge for us as the season goes on," added Lodge.

Less than 15 minutes later, the Racers would double the margin when freshman Chloe Barnthouse found the net in her first match in a Murray State uniform. The West Bloomfield, Michigan native ran onto a deflected ball and fended off a defender to slide the ball past the Eagle goalkeeper, making it 2-0 in favor of the Racers in the 33^rd.

"Chloe was fantastic today. She came in during the fall ready to go, and she even said to me 'I'm coming here to score goals, and I want to push the players in front of me.' She did just that. She's a kid that brings everything every single day with energy and intent," said MSU head coach Matt Lodge.

The Racers entered the halftime interval with a 2-0 lead behind five first-half shots on goal, while the Eagles managed just one shot on target through the first 45 minutes of action.

Even with a two-goal cushion, the Racers continued to pour on a relentless attack, adding another goal in the 52^nd minute when Saraya Young put on a dazzling display of individual skill. The sophomore carried the ball more than half the pitch, carving through the Eagle defense before finding the net for her first-career goal to give her side a 3-0 lead early in the second half.

"You can tell from the players in front of Saraya, the way they opened up, that they just trusted her to do what she did. Coach Paul Cox identified in the scout that, when we can get past the first line of defense, things really open up from there."

While the Eagles would spoil the clean sheet with a Colleen Swift goal in the 63^rd, that would be the extent of the comeback effort as the Racers secured a 3-1 triumph in the season opener.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacres made four saves to preserve the victory in goal for Murray State.

While Barnthouse and Young collected their first collegiate goals, it would be career goal number 23 for Kubin. For Strader, the assist is her second in a Racer uniform.

The Racers will be back in action on Friday when they host Eastern Kentucky at Cutchin Field. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.