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Kansas City
New Mexico State
UMKC Earns 4-2 Victory in WAC Opener
10/3/2014 10:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Whitney Lucas scored the first two goals of her career to lead UMKC to a 4-2 victory over New Mexico State in the team's WAC opener on Friday night.
The 'Roos wasted little time jumping ahead of the visitors, as senior Hannah Chadick, getting her first start of the season, found the opposite end of a Kaely Tott cross, firing a header beyond the reach of Aggie goalkeeper Taylor Rice for her first goal of the season.
“We were really happy for her,” said head coach Chris Cissell.” She was fantastic through the spring, one of our best players in the preseason. She got hurt, she's been fighting through injuries. But she had a really good week of training so we decided to start her and see how it went.”
It went well, not only for Chadick, but for UMKC in general as it pertained to ball control and shot creation. The Kangaroos dominated possession from the outset and outshot the visitors 25-3.
In the 22nd minute, New Mexico State answered with a Katie Smith bomb from 20 yards out. Frustrated by a back line that refused to allow a satisfactory shot opportunity, Smith unleashed a frozen rope from well beyond the top of the circle that sailed just beyond the reach of Megan Goetzinger to tie the game at a goal apiece.
“We hadn't played in two weeks, so I think we were a bit rusty,” said Cissell. “I think there were some nerves, too. We've been focusing so much on starting conference play and on how important conference play is.”
Whatever nerves existed, the 'Roos shook them off less than one minute after the equalizer when another senior, Alyssa Elver, beat Rice from point blank range to put UMKC back in front. From there, freshman Whitney Lucas took the opportunity to steal the show down the stretch.
The Maize, Kan., native delivered her first career goal in the 43rd minute, reaching a perfectly placed through ball off the foot of Taylor Andrzejewski and finishing past the keeper to extend the UMKC advantage and cap the first half scoring.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Lucas was back at it, capitalizing on a scoring opportunity created by a Tott shot that ricocheted off of an Aggie defender. Lucas once again won the battle with Rice to all but put the game away.
“Whitney has had to battle through a knee injury, and, as a result, she's barely played this year,” said Cissell. “It was great to see her get involved to the extent that she did tonight. She had a great game.
“I think we should've scored a lot more than four goals, but at the same time, we got four, we got the win, we got the three points. That's what we're focused on and now we'll focus on making sure that we go 2-0 this weekend.”
UMKC will have an opportunity to do just that when the 'Roos welcome WAC-newcomer Texas-Pan American to Durwood Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for noon. The game will be broadcasted live on the WAC Sports Network.
