By Cory McKendrick, USU Eastern Sports Information Contributor
The 2019 women’s soccer season began with two victories following a road trip to Wyoming. Both wins were by a score of 1-0. USU Eastern competed first against Gillette College on Aug. 22 and then against Sheridan College on Aug. 24.
In the game versus Gillette, Atley Thompson netted a goal in the first half, assisted by Claire Bowman. This proved to be all that the Eagles needed to rise to victory against the Pronghorns. Megan Edwards was in goal for the Lady Eagles and held Gillette scoreless during the 90-minute game to complete the shutout.
The match in Sheridan, Wyo. was an equally exciting game for the Eagles with a scoreless contest until the 89th minute. In the final minute, Morgan Cragun played a ball to Ashley Brindley, who scored to break the tie, which would prove to be the decisive goal in the game. Megan Edwards, in goal again for the Eagles, defended her second consecutive shutout, bringing the Eagles record to 2-0 in preseason play.
Last week, the Lady Eagles played a scrimmage against Treasure Valley. This game was a bit out of routine for the structure of a soccer match. With it being a scrimmage, the teams played four 30-minute periods. USU Eastern came out on top by a score of 7-3.
Morgan Haag got the scoring going early with a header goal in the fifth minute of the first period. Casey Bergen added another goal off of a free kick in the 10th minute of the first period as well.
The second period featured three Eagle goals. The first was from Tasha Kamachi, assisted by Logan Duran, in the ninth minute of the second period. Brooke Stoker found the back of the net in the 19th minute, assisted by Brooklyn Anderson, and Morgan Haag netted her second goal of the contest in the final minute of the second period from an assist by Brenna Martin.
Logan Duran scored the final two goals for the Eagles, one in the third period, unassisted, and then one in the fourth period, assisted by Claire Bowman. The Lady Eagles, coached by Ammon Bennett, are back in action in Henderson, Nev. on Aug. 29 and 31, facing off against Arizona Western College and Alan Hancock College (CA). Game times will be 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., respectively. All Nevada games with be played Pacific Standard Time.