By: by Matthew Farhadi
Box Score
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Kennesaw State women’s soccer team opened up the first day of the Lady Vol Classic with a hard fought, 0-0, tie against the Richmond Spiders that went to two periods of extra time on Friday evening at Regal Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
The tie moves the Owls to 2-0-1 for the season, while the Spiders move to 1-1-1 on the year.
Owls senior goalkeeper Staci Pugh was a rock in the net for the squad, securing seven saves and keeping the Black and Gold tied with the Spiders.
After both squads failed to score in regulation, Kennesaw State maintained possession for most of the extra time, as they outshot Richmond, 6-5, but couldn’t break the scoreless tie, as they settled for their first draw since October 10, 2008, a match against Belmont that also ended with a score of 0-0.
Head coach Rob King's squad kept the pressure on Richmond goalkeeper Melissa Pacheo all the way through the end of the match, as juniors Brittany Vining and Lauren Ruffini each had shots on goal in the second period of extra time, but they were unable to get by Pacheo, who also had seven saves in the contest. Ruffini's shot on goal in the second session was preceded by a pair of shots by junior Kristin Marietta and a shot by freshman Alma Gardarsdottir, with all four shots coming within a span of 57 seconds.
Kennesaw State’s first quality scoring chance came in the 26th minute, as Gardarsdottir collected a loose ball that deflected off of a Richmond defender just outside the box. She took two dribbles and blasted a shot that soared just over the crossbar, and the game would remain scoreless going into the half.
Richmond held the edge in shots over the Owls in the first half 8-4, while the Kennesaw State back line kept the Spiders' offense out of rhythm, drawing them offsides seven times in the period, and a total of 17 times during the game.
Defense, and physical play, dominated the second half, as both sides really got after it in an attempt to avoid extra time.
The Owls' best chance of the second half came in the 86th minute on a counter attack, in which junior Katie Scott took a shot that sailed just wide.
King was reasonably pleased with the result, and the effort of his players.
“I think the effort was definitely there, but we were sloppy with the ball as well," King commented after the match. "We are going to have to watch the tape and make some adjustments before we step back on the field against a nationally-ranked Maryland squad on Sunday.”
Marietta, Vining and Ruffini led the offensive attack for the Owls with four shots on goal, with Marietta and Vining taking a total of four shots apiece. Scott also added a shot on goal of her own.
The Owls will stay in Knoxville to play their final match of the Lady Vol Classic, as they will take on No. 14 Maryland on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 12:30 p.m.
