Tulane University
Southern Miss
Women's Soccer Cruises Past Southern Miss
Nov 3, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 3, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La - - The Tulane women's soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals to cruise to a 3-1 win over Conference USA rival Southern Miss at the Westfeldt Facility on Saturday.
With the win, Tulane improves to 9-7-0 overall and finishes the regular season at 7-3-0 in Conference USA play. The nine wins are a new school record for victories in a season and assure the Green Wave of its first winning season in school history. Southern Miss, playing its final game of the year after failing to qualify for the C-USA Tournament, ends the season at 9-7-0 overall and 3-7-0 in league play.
Freshman Lindsay Morris got the Green Wave on the board in the 22nd minute, beating Southern Miss goalkeeper Anna Snyder after a receiving a pass from junior Mandy Schumacher to give Tulane a 1-0 advantage.
Southern Miss' Tricia Wiles knotted the scores at 1-1, scoring against the run of play after a long pass from Katie Adams, to send the teams into the locker room on level terms.
The Green Wave struck back with a pair of goals just four minutes apart in a dominating second half performance to claim the win. Jacque Gruber scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 75th minute of play. A Jaclyn Benjamin corner kick was cleared out to Stephanie Donaldson, who fired a first-time shot back into the box. Gruber got a touch on the ball and redirected it past Snyder, giving Tulane a 2-1 lead at the 74:41 mark.
Asia Simons gave Tulane a two-goal cushion less than four minutes later. Freshman Kelly Smith took the ball down the left flank before serving across the goal to classmate Brook Parker. Parker settled the ball and laid if off for Simons, and the sophomore hit a rocket past Snyder from 25-yards out to give Tulane a 3-1 lead.
"The girls came out and did what we asked of them in the second half," head coach Betsy Anderson. "We played with much more intensity and determination. It was a good win, but now we have to focus on getting ready for the Conference USA Tournament next week."
Tulane cruised through the second half, rarely allowing Southern Miss out of its own end. The few chances the Golden Eagles were able to create came from long-range and were easily snuffed out by Green Wave goalkeeper Sara Simpson.
Simpson, a true freshman, recorded six saves, but was rarely tested thanks to solid defensive work from Benjamin, Gruber and Caitlyn Gibson on the Green Wave backline.
Tulane returns to action on Wednesday at the Conference USA Tournament. The Green Wave finished fourth in Conference USA, earning the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seed UAB in the first round. Earlier this season, Tulane posted a 3-0 win over the Lady Blazers.
