Oakland gives Southern Utah the 5-1 boot
ROCHESTER HILLS — Southern Utah will be leaving the Summit League after the school year. Oakland University gave the Thunderbirds a unfriendly good-bye on the soccer pitch Sunday.
Two goals from Serena San Cartier helped lead the Oakland women’s soccer team to a 5-1 Summit League win over Southern Utah on Senior Day at the OU Soccer Field.
The Golden Grizzlies (6-10-1, 4-2-1) outshot the Thunderbirds, 28-17.
“I thought our team did well,” said Oakland head coach Nick O’Shea. “Seniors always work hard on Senior Day, but I thought the underclassmen did an excellent job of working really hard for them to make it a great day. It was a very fun day. “
Oakland took the lead in the fifth minute when Kara Weber headed the ball in from a Nicole DeLuca corner kick. Senior Amy Trandell doubled the lead in the 41st when she scored a breakaway goal off of a long through pass by Julianne Boyle.
The Golden Grizzlies added a third goal in the first half, when San Cartier scored from close range in the 44th minute. Senior Sarah Lynch set up the play with a ball to Marlen Knoph, who popped the ball up for San Cartier to finish from inside the six-yard area. OU outshot Southern Utah 14-8 in the first half.
Meghan Reynolds gave Oakland a 4-0 lead with her goal in the 48th minute. Reynolds dribbled the ball into the penalty area and unleashed a shot into the far post. After a goal by Southern Utah in the 66th minute, San Cartier had the response in the 68th when she scored from three yards out off of a low cross from Boyle.
Stacey Brinkman had the lone goal for Southern Utah (2-11-3, 0-6-0). She headed the ball into the upper corner of the goal from a corner kick by Missy Lazcano.
Oakland used three goalkeepers in the match. Senior Anne Berschbach started and made two saves without allowing a goal. Melissa MacKinnon had two saves, including a breakaway stop against Shelby Ostler. Payj O’Shea finished the game for OU, and did not allow a goal but did not record a save.
Breana Fitzgerald made 10 saves in goal for the Thunderbirds and was aided by her defense, which cleared a ball off the line in the first half.
“The team just picked up where they left off on Friday,” said O’Shea. “It was an awesome weekend with six goals and five goals in the two games, I am really proud of what they accomplished, what they are doing and how they are playing at the moment.”
Seniors Shannon Doyle, Alissa Beeman, Jessica Conrad, Berschbach, Trandell and Lynch were all honored at the match.
This was the final regular season home match for the Golden Grizzlies. However, Oakland is the host of the 2011 Summit League Championship on Nov. 4 and 6.
Oakland must still qualify for the league tournament and has two tough road matches left on the schedule. The Golden Grizzlies are back in action on Friday at 4 p.m. with a match at Western Illinois.
Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Oakland University
