KEENE, Texas – After the Mississippi University for Women women's soccer took one on the chin on Sunday (6-2) at Southwestern Adventist University, the team was eager to return the favor in Monday's rematch. And the Owls did so in convincing fashion, crushing the Warriors by a 9-1 count on their own turf.
To make the win somewhat bittersweet was the fact that The W did so minus three players who were injured in the first meeting between the teams 28 hours earlier.
"Huge win (Monday) for us," Head Coach
Catie Lyles said post-game. "After a not-so-good game (Sunday) the girls beat adversity and came back with a huge win today. Yesterday we lost three players to injury. Today we had several players step up and play in some different positions. I am so very proud of the entire roster. They came back today with the goal of earning the win and they did just that."
"Earning" is almost an understatement. The Owls simply refused to lose, in spite of the circumstance of being down three regulars and having been dominated by SWAU a day earlier.
The W ladies built a 3-0 halftime advantage, before adding a six-spot to their total in the final segment. The onslaught was led by Lyles' senior duo of
Shelby Harrington (Hattiesburg, Miss.) and
Sarah Havens (Hurley, Miss.). Both players had "hat tricks", accounting for a half-dozen Owl scores. Havens also had one assist to her credit.
Sophomore
Adrianna Parsons (Springdale, Ark.) had a nice afternoon, as well. Parsons notched two goals of her own and assisted on three others.
Another of The W's seniors,
Hannah Helms (Southaven, Miss.), also booked a goal. Helms, along with teammate
Elizabeth Holland (Fairgrove, Mo.), had assists for MUW.
"I thought we all played very well as a team today despite what happened (Sunday)," senior goalkeeper
Sarah Gilliland (Brandon, Miss.) reflected on her view of the Owls' play in front of her. "I couldn't be more proud of each player and how they performed."
Harrington echoed Gilliland's sentiments: "Today we played together and built each other up. We put our game Sunday behind us and went out with a clear conscience and played the way we know how."
