NEED TO KNOW
Score: Life U 6, Faulkner (AL) 0
Record: Life 4-0-1, 2-0 SSAC
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life University women's soccer team remained unbeaten and perfect in Southern States Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon, overwhelming Faulkner (AL) 6-0 at Lupo Family Field. The victory improved the Running Eagles to 4-0-1 overall and 2-0 in SSAC competition.
Life U controlled the match from start to finish, holding a 26-3 advantage in shots and limiting Faulkner to just one shot on goal. The Running Eagles broke through in the 16th minute when a corner kick from Victoria Valles forced an own goal, giving the home side a 1-0 lead. Despite generating 10 shots in the opening half, Life U took the one-goal advantage into the break.
The Running Eagles quickly put the match out of reach after halftime. Linn Joelsson converted a penalty kick in the 49th minute to double the lead, and just 22 seconds later, Phoenix Parks finished a chance created by Odalis Tapia to make it 3-0.
Life U continued to create quality opportunities throughout the second half. Victoria Valles added a goal in the 55th minute on a setup from Odalis Tapia, pushing the advantage to four. In the 81st minute, Cadence Moore finished a break that started from the midfield, converting passes from Strapp and Ruiz Perez. Strapp then capped the scoring less than three minutes later, finishing another well-worked passing sequence with an assist from Ruiz Perez.
Defensively, the Running Eagles were just as dominant. Elora Niederpruem made a save in her 67 minutes of work before Justine Candel closed out the final 22 minutes as Life U secured its second consecutive shutout.
Before kickoff, Life U recognized seniors Sienna Strapp, Sara Diaz, Marey Helgadottir, Linn Joelsson, Justine Candel, Embla Jonsdottir, and Jasmin Slump as part of Senior Day festivities.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-- Life U outshot Faulkner 26-3 and held a 15-1 advantage in shots on goal.
-- The Running Eagles held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
-- Odalis Tapia and Ruiz Perez each recorded two assists.
-- Taylor Waters made nine saves for Faulkner.
-- Life U recorded its second straight shutout.
TURNING POINT:
-- The own goal forced by Victoria Valles' corner kick in the 16th minute gave Life U an early lead and allowed the Running Eagles to dictate play for the remainder of the match.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-- Odalis Tapia finished with two assists.
-- Ruiz Perez tallied two assists off the bench.
-- Phoenix Parks, Victoria Valles, Linn Joelsson, Cadence Moore, and Strapp all scored for the Running Eagles.
-- Elora Niederpruem and Justine Candel combined for the shutout.
