HOUSTON – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers gave visiting Southern Mississippi a competitive match Sunday before ultimately falling 3-0 to the Golden Eagles.
USM's Becky McMullan scored a goal in the 17th minute and then assisted on another 10 minutes after to halftime to help lead the Golden Eagles (5-2-0) to victory.
The Lady Tigers fell to 1-3-1 with the loss.
The match's final score obscured the challenge the Lady Tigers provided to their guests from Conference USA. Though the Golden Eagles outshot TSU 17-7 (and held an 11-3 advantage after halftime), the visitors found scoring chances to be few until the final 15 minutes, when USM's deep bench began to wear down the injury-riddled Lady Tigers.
After McMullan's first-half goal, the Lady Tigers asserted themselves against Southern Miss's backline. Kelly Sanders presented the first test to goalkeeper Kelly Brahmbhatt in the 21st minute. That shot was turned away behind the end line, giving TSU the first of its seven corner kicks on the afternoon; Kayla Smith's corner kick found Paige Hayward, but her header shot went wide.
The Lady Tigers found their best scoring chance at the half-hour mark when Sanders and Bailey Blalock won a challenge for the ball at the right touchline in front of the Lady Tigers' bench. TSU's last pass on that rush was interrupted by a diving Brahmbhatt.
Blalock, one of the Lady Tigers' best defenders, spent the afternoon in the midfield while Jenyl Henry made her first career appearance and start in the backfield on Sunday. Rania Kablawi (pictured) made her first appearance of the season for TSU.
Tammy Syron made her first start in goal for the Lady Tigers; the native of Bartlett, Ill., made five saves in 90 minutes as her record fell to 0-1-1. Her counterpart Brahmbhatt – a fellow Illinoisan – improved to 5-0 on the season for Southern Miss.
The Lady Tigers return to action Sunday when they host LSU–Alexandria in their final non-conference match before opening Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
USM's Becky McMullan scored a goal in the 17th minute and then assisted on another 10 minutes after to halftime to help lead the Golden Eagles (5-2-0) to victory.
The Lady Tigers fell to 1-3-1 with the loss.
The match's final score obscured the challenge the Lady Tigers provided to their guests from Conference USA. Though the Golden Eagles outshot TSU 17-7 (and held an 11-3 advantage after halftime), the visitors found scoring chances to be few until the final 15 minutes, when USM's deep bench began to wear down the injury-riddled Lady Tigers.
After McMullan's first-half goal, the Lady Tigers asserted themselves against Southern Miss's backline. Kelly Sanders presented the first test to goalkeeper Kelly Brahmbhatt in the 21st minute. That shot was turned away behind the end line, giving TSU the first of its seven corner kicks on the afternoon; Kayla Smith's corner kick found Paige Hayward, but her header shot went wide.
The Lady Tigers found their best scoring chance at the half-hour mark when Sanders and Bailey Blalock won a challenge for the ball at the right touchline in front of the Lady Tigers' bench. TSU's last pass on that rush was interrupted by a diving Brahmbhatt.
Blalock, one of the Lady Tigers' best defenders, spent the afternoon in the midfield while Jenyl Henry made her first career appearance and start in the backfield on Sunday. Rania Kablawi (pictured) made her first appearance of the season for TSU.
Tammy Syron made her first start in goal for the Lady Tigers; the native of Bartlett, Ill., made five saves in 90 minutes as her record fell to 0-1-1. Her counterpart Brahmbhatt – a fellow Illinoisan – improved to 5-0 on the season for Southern Miss.
The Lady Tigers return to action Sunday when they host LSU–Alexandria in their final non-conference match before opening Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics