JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win with
Julia Papa's golden goal in overtime to top Southeast Missouri on Sunday at the JSU Soccer Field.
The Gamecocks notched their third win of the season and first since August 19 against Jackson State. JSU moved to 1-1 in league play after opening the OVC slate at Tennessee Tech on September 14. The Redhawks fell to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in OVC contests.
Papa's goal was the first of her collegiate career as the Uxbridge, Ontario , Canada freshman made her fourth career start after being inserted in to the starting line up four matches ago against Samford. Papa netted the game winner in the 96th minute after redshirt freshman
Abigail Martinez lifted a ball over the SEMO defender for Papa to capitalize. Martinez was credited with her second assist of the season and finished with two shots.
Both teams had scoring chances throughout the extended match with 31 combined shots with Jax State holding a plus-three advantage in shots, 17-14. After just four in the first 45 minutes, the Gamecocks controlled the pace with aa shots in the second half and two in the first six minutes of overtime, including the game winner off the foot of Papa. SEMO tallied eight shots in the first half and six combined in the final half and overtime session.
Junior
Emma Meadows led the Gamecocks with three shots in the result with all three on goal chances. Senior
Claire Petersen added two opportunities. Freshman
Reilly Kucko came off the bench for a pair of shots..
SEMO was led by Esmie Gonzales and Cassidi Tomsu with four shots each.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Morgan Lerch recorded her fourth shutout of the season with a clean worksheet. Lerch had one save in the 96 minute affair.
JSU will hit the road next weekend for its first two-match conference weekend of the season. The weekend will start in Clarksville, Tennessee on Friday, September 28 against Austin Peay. The Govs and Gamecocks will kick off at 5 p.m. The trip will continue to Murray, Kentucky on Sunday to face defending champion Murray State.
