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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Kennesaw State soccer team had only beaten a Southeastern Conference opponent once in program history, but that all changed on Sunday night as sophomore
Iyani Hughes (Chelsea, Ala./Chelsea HS) scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes remaining in the match to defeat Arkansas 1-0 at Razorback Field.
The Kennesaw State (2-3-0) defense was the story of the match, as senior goalkeeper
Melissa Hutto (Pensacola, Fla./South Alabama) and the Owl backline bent, but did not break.
Arkansas (3-2-0), dropping its second-consecutive match, controlled much of the possession in both halves, but could not break through the KSU defense. The Razorbacks outshot Kennesaw State 25 to five, including an 18 to three mark in the second half, but could not find the back of the net.
With less than four minutes remaining in the match, Hughes received the ball in the middle of the pitch and fired a shot about 40-yards out from goal. The ball sailed past Razorback goalkeeper Kelly Roliard into the upper right corner to give Hughes her second goal of the season and the Owls a late 1-0 lead. Hughes’ score proved to be the game-winner as time expired on the Razorbacks’ chances to equalize.
Hughes led the KSU offense with two shots, including one on goal. Sophomore
Julia Nelson (Marietta, Ga./Hillgrove HS) and
Danielle Gray (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh HS) also recorded shots for the Black and Gold. Andrea Carlson nabbed five shots, including three on goal, to lead the Razorbacks, who had seven shots on frame.
Kennesaw State earned seven corner kicks, while Arkansas tallied 12. Both teams combined for 15 fouls, with junior
Kelsey Barr (Douglasville, Ga./South Carolina) being shown a yellow card in the 73rd minute.
Hutto, who notched her first win of the season, had six saves in the match. Roliard tallied one save on the night.
The Owls continue their road swing next weekend with a trip to Charleston, S.C., for the 2012 College of Charleston Cup. Kennesaw State will face off against Eastern Kentucky on Friday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m., followed by a match-up against South Florida on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Noon.
Keep up with Owls soccer this year by following KSU on Twitter at
@KSUOwlNation and
@ksuOWLSsoccer, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
