GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern women's soccer overwhelmed Sul Ross State to win its second game to open the season, showcasing its offensive firepower and getting four points from freshman forward Samantha Hazen in a 4-1 win.
The Pirates dominated possession but generated few shots early until freshman forward Sydney Boswell found the back of the net from distance on a nice give-and-go, one-touch pass from Hazen for the first goal with just under 24 minutes remaining in the first half.
Southwestern added another goal with less than five minutes remaining in the half when junior forward Alexis Guajardo delivered a beautiful pass to find sophomore Mary Kate Beggs in perfect stride, who sent the ball past Sul Ross State goalkeeper Alitzel Ybarra to carry the 2-0 lead into the half.
Ybarra was brilliant in the net for Sul Ross State, not only in quantity (12 saves), but quality, making several highlight stops in what looked like surefire goals for the Pirates.
In the second half, Sul Ross State showed the weary legs of a team that fielded only 11 players for the entire game. Southwestern showcased its depth, sending wave after wave of substitutions to swarm the Lobos.
Southwestern strung together 27 shots, including 16 in the second half, while holding Sul Ross State to just five for the game. The Pirates also had a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Hazen took over in the second half, threading a pass through three defenders to Samantha Davis at the front of the net, who put the shot in off the bottom of the crosspost with roughly 35 minutes remaining. Hazen then created her own opportunity, using her speed to track down a perfectly weighted pass from Whitney Whitehill. Next, she showcased her agility with a hard cut inside, drawing a foul on a sliding tackle from defender Aleysha Carrillo to earn a penalty kick, which Hazen converted on.
Sul Ross State fought until the end, avoiding the shutout when Nuvia Guillen found Yissel Olivares for the Lobos' lone score at the 70:52 mark.
Through two games, Hazen has six points with two goals and two assists with one game-winner in the first week of her collegiate career. Southwestern improves to 2-0 and will host the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Monday.