Oct. 21, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – Christina Burger scored two goals including the game-winner at 71:19 as Arkansas defeated South Carolina 2-1 on Friday night in SEC women’s soccer action at Stone Stadium. The Lady Backs improve to 6-10 and 3-6 in the SEC while the loss drops Carolina to 5-11 and 1-8 in the conference. South Carolina returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 23 at LSU. The match went over three hours long due to a one hour and 15 minute delay because of heavy lightning in the Columbia area.
Burger put Arkansas ahead at 35:31 with a goal off a counter attack. Burger beat a USC defender 1v1 and knocked a shot in 10 yards out to give the Lady Backs a one-goal edge. It would remain 1-0 the rest of the first half despite USC holding a 5-4 shot advantage and a shot by Jackie Welch off a Carolina corner kick that was saved off the line by an Arkansas defender.
Carolina tied the match in the 51st minute as Darcel Mollon scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season. With open space, midfielder Erin Sullivan played a through ball to Mollon, who went in untouched on a breakaway. Mollon was able to beat Arkansas goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver with a shot to the left corner off the post and into the net.
Burger’s second goal of the night would be all that Arkansas would need as she scored at the 71:19 mark. A breakdown in the back allowed Burger to make her way into the box and put a shot past USC goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson giving the Lady Backs a one-goal edge.
USC would continue to creep in and get chances inside the “18” but could not find the back of the net to tie the match. Carolina finished the night with a 14-7 shot advantage. Thorstenson had two saves for Carolina in between the posts.
Friday night was Senior Night with Carolina’s four seniors honored before the match. Kimmy Criss, Amanda Thurber, Jackie Welch and Stacey Zelek played their final matches in the garnet and black at Stone Stadium.
