Box Score CLARKSVILLE - Junior keeper Haylee Shoaff recorded her fifth
shutout in the last six games and Austin Peay State University women's soccer
team clinched a berth in November's Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a
2-0 Senior Day victory against Jacksonville State, Sunday, at Morgan Brothers
Field.
The victory sends Austin Peay (9-7-1, 5-2-1 OVC) back to the
conference tournament for the first time since 2010, when the Lady Govs reached
their first-ever OVC Tournament championship game. Jacksonville State (10-6-2, 3-4-1)
falls to seventh and sits outside the six-team field for next month's
conference championship.
"It's a great weekend for us and a great day," said head
coach Kelley Guth. "I'm proud that our team came out and secured a win for our
seniors and put them in a position to extend their last season as long as
possible."
Austin Peay jumped out to an early lead thanks to the
continued offensive brilliance of junior Tatiana Ariza. She corralled a loose
ball in front of the Jacksonville State net and slipped it past the Gamecocks
Katelyn Geddings for her season's 11th goal.
In conference play Ariza now has eight goals and three
assists, including seven goals and three assists in Austin Peay's current 4-0-1
stretch. Her 29 points this season is the second-highest mark in Austin Peay
history.
Austin Peay and Jacksonville State would lock horns in a
defensive battle for the remainder of the first half and much of the second. Neither
squad would so much as attempt a shot between the 52nd and 70th minutes.
The Lady Govs got a late insurance goal from junior Joceline Quiceno, who made an athletic play to get a head on an Ariza cross and redirect
into the net for her season's fourth goal. Senior Emily Perkins also assisted on
the play.
Shoaff was stellar in net again, making four saves and
earning her fifth shutout this season, all during OVC play. She's now made 87
saves this season, tying her with Michelle Smith's 2007 mark for sixth-most in
a single season in Austin Peay history.
"Haylee's been solid back there," Guth said. "We have a lot
of confidence in her abilities. We had to make some adjustments in our defense
today and they didn't falter. I commend Haylee and the rest of the backline for
stepping up."
Austin Peay remains tied with Eastern Kentucky for second in
the OVC. The Lady Govs will get their chance against the Colonels next weekend,
when they host Eastern Kentucky, 2 p.m., Sunday, in the regular-season finale.
Austin Peay also has a road match-up at Morehead State, 6 p.m., Friday, in a
must-win if the Lady Govs hope to keep pace with Eastern Kentucky and
conference-leading UT Martin.