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Before a good crowd at UT-D, most of whom wore LSU purple, the women's soccer team beat LSU 2-0. SMU controlled the game from the start and should have had at least two other goals. A ball off the post and a missed full volley at an open net. SMU looks big, fast, athletic and they play a physical brand of soccer. Very entertaining to watch. The SMU fans at the game seemed to be mostly relatives and a few hardcore soccer fans like myself. This team will be good especially in conference USA. It will be interesting to see how they do Sunday against NC. Unfortunately, I will be out of town. This should be a good game to go see in a beautiful made for soccer stadium.

game write up

SMU Shuts Out LSU, 2-0, in Women's Soccer Season Opener
Schieda, Phillips Score for the Mustangs



Marisa Schieda Scores Game Winner for SMU




Aug. 25, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's soccer team opened up the 2006 season with a solid 2-0 victory over visiting LSU Friday evening at the UT-Dallas Stadium field in Richardson. It was SMU's 11th consecutive season-opening victory.

The Mustangs came out of the opening whistle fast and furious, attacking at every possible moment. Sophomore midfielder Marisa Schieda scored the game's first goal at the 7:44 mark with a flurry of shots that finally got into the net. SMU went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead over the Tigers.

In the second half, both teams were beginning to fatigue due to very hot temperatures and high humidity. LSU organized its offensive attack and pushed the ball up the field more frequently than in the first half. But SMU's stifling defense held its ground and thwarted every Tiger attempt. At the 51:48 mark, SMU's Kimber Bailey was taken down in the Tiger box and the Mustangs were awarded a penalty kick. Sophomore Carley Phillips connected on the PK, giving SMU a 2-0 lead.

Statistically, the Mustangs outshot the Tigers, 17-14, with LSU making nine saves compared to SMU's seven.

SMU (1-0) continues play Sunday afternoon with a contest against #4 North Carolina at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.

The referee was atrocious. I guess it was like preseason for him. Several SMU players were taken down with hard fouls that went uncalled, and Coach Coss deserves some kind of award for not losing his mind (I nearly did). Four players left the game with cramps (actually three -- one left twice). Scheida's goal was terrific. Kimber Bailey took a shot that was blocked, and Scheida grabbed the rebound. She shot, had it blocked, got her own rebound and tucked it in the net. Really nice work.

You're right, the ref was terrible, but our team - while clearly vastly superior in talent - seemed almost disinterested at times. LSU is terrible, and I really thought we'd run them off the field. The Ponies need to step it up a notch - or several notches - to hang with Carolina tomorrow.