TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Arizona women's soccer team completed their undefeated weekend at the Sun Devil Classic by defeating Stephen F. Austin by a score of 3-0. Hannah Stevens, Paige Crouch and Kennedy Kieneker scored for the Wildcats.
With Arizona's victory, a 5-0 record is the best start in school history. They broke the school record that the 2004 team set. It was also another shot parade for the Wildcats as they outshot Stephen F. Austin 27-4. Rachel Estopare also made her first start of the season and kept a clean sheet.
“We go into every game doing our best,” head coach Tony Amato said. “We put a game plan in place and we want to win the game. We played two games and were able to win them both. The team is very happy about that and so am I.”
Arizona had the first real chance of the day in the fourth minute as Alexa Montgomery found some space from about 30 yards away and ripped a shot that was curling towards the goal. The ball made it past the keeper, but she was saved by the left pole and it rolled to safety.
In the 12th minute, Laura Pimienta was able to gain possession. She found Gabi Stoian who delivered a gorgeous ball to Hannah Wong, who created some space at the top of the box and took a shot towards the upper right corner of the goal, but it went just wide.
Just minutes later, a Crouch flip throw in found the foot of Cece Bilginer who got a clean shot off. The keeper showed good reactions by making a kick save and ending the danger.
Stephen F. Austin then had a good scoring chance in the 25th minute. Hannah Barker took a shot from the edge of the goal box with her left, but it hit the crossbar and ended their scoring chance.
Stevens broke the seal in the 41st minute off a Jessica Nelson flip throw in. Nelson launched it from the left sideline and found the head of Stevens right in front of goal, who was able to put it past the keeper and put Arizona on top 1-0. Stevens now has two goals on the season.
The Wildcats got off to a good start in the second half. Five minutes into the half, Montgomery delivered a fantastic cross to Stoian, but she was unable to convert. Minutes later, Stoian took a shot with her left foot and the keeper was forced to make a diving stop.
In the 57th minute, Stevens got her head on another cross and put it in the back of the net, but her goal was taken away by the offsides flag.
Two minutes later, Crouch showed some excellent fitness as she ran down a ball and gained possession from the Stephen F. Austin defender. She then showed good dribbling ability and found some open space and placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the goal, making the score 2-0. That is Crouch's second goal of the season.
In the 65th minute, Bilginer made a good run up the right sideline and cut towards the middle of the field. She took a shot with her left foot, but the keeper made a good diving save and parried it out to the top of the goal box. Wong gathered the rebound and aimed for the top right corner of the goal, but it sailed just inches wide of it.
In the 83rd minute, Kennedy Kieneker made the score 3-0 Arizona after she headed in her first career goal off a corner kick from Stoian. She was all alone in the middle of the box and put past the keeper with ease.
Arizona is back in action on Friday, Sept. 11. They will play Texas Tech as they host the Arizona Cats Classic.
