Box Score Oct. 5, 2014 BOX SCORE | SEASON STATS
TAMPA, Fla. (SMU) - The SMU women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to USF on Sunday afternoon at Corbett Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Senior goalkeeper Lauryn Bodden tallied 11 saves in the loss, setting a new career-high in just her second start of the season.
With 20 total fouls and four yellow cards, the contest was chippy from the get-go.
"The game became the kind of the game that USF wanted. A lot of fouls, a lot of long balls," said Head Coach Chris Petrucelli. "And we struggled with that."
USF (7-5-2, 2-2-0 The American) netted two goals in the final 15 minutes of the game to pull out the victory.
SMU (5-8-0, 1-2-0 The American) went ahead in the 40th minute on an own goal. Freshman Lauren Guerra sent in a corner kick that found fellow freshman Claire Oates. Oates drove a header back across the box and the ball deflected off of a UCF defender and into the back of the net.
SMU would carry the 1-0 lead into halftime. In the opening segment, the Mustangs recorded three shots and four corner kicks. Bodden made five stops in the half, including an impressive tip over the crossbar on a line-drive shot.
Bodden and the Mustang defense would fend off numerous USF attacks for the majority of the second half, as the Bulls searched for the equalizer. However, in the 75th minute, USF's Olivia Chance hit a one-time shot off of a cross into the top left corner of the net to even the score at 1-1.
Then, in the 87th minute, Jackie Simpson would put the Bulls ahead as she slipped a low shot into the lower left corner of the net.
SMU would put pressure on USF in the waning minutes, but the Mustangs could not find a last-minute equalizer.
Bodden recorded six saves in the second half, putting her total for the day at 11. The senior goalie's impressive performance came in her Tampa homecoming, as she attended Tampa's HB Plant High School.
"Lauryn played great," said Petrucelli. "She made a ton of great saves. I wish she didn't have to make so many saves, but she did."
Next week, the Mustangs return to Westcott Field for conference tilts with Temple and UConn.
"We were thin this weekend," Petrucelli said. "We should have more players available for next week's games and that should make us deeper."
On Thursday, SMU faces Temple at 7 p.m. CT. The Mustangs then take the pitch against UConn on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. For ticket information, visit SMUtickets.com.
