Right foot

Overtime win over Houston has SUU headed right way with tourney ahead

By RICH JOHNSON
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

The T-Bird soccer squad ended its 2002 home season on a high note, scoring a 2-1 overtime victory over Houston on Monday.
“We have played very tough at home this year,” SUU coach Brian Stock said. “Last year, we weren’t always prepared for our matches at home. But this year, we really took advantage of our time playing at our home park. Today we were not going to let anybody come in here and beat us.”
Ilene Dixon scored her second goal of the game 5:55 into the overtime period to give SUU a win over the Conference USA team.
“We just kept pushing them until they made mistakes,” Dixon said.
SUU improved to 2-12-0 on the season while Houston fell to 4-5-2.
Dixon’s game-winning goal came off of a rebound from a shot by Eryn Pictum. Pictum came within inches of finishing the game herself, but her shot hit the goalkeeper’s hand and bounced up against the crossbar.
However, Dixon was there to punch the ball in for the victory.
“I was there just in case it did happen,” Dixon said. “I followed it in and got lucky. It was a wonderful shot by Eryn. It’s basically her goal, it pretty much bounced off me.”
Stock said the goal reminded him of the first goal of the ‘Birds’ game against Oakland last week.
“That was the first goal we gave up,” he said. “So the first thing that came into my mind is ‘It’s our turn! It’s going to happen for us!’
“Eryn hit a great ball. If it was two inches lower, it would have gone in on the first shot. But it came off the bar and we were there to follow and that’s what it takes.”
Pictum also had an assist on Dixon’s earlier goal, which was scored off of a corner kick in the 55th minute.
“I think that the biggest factor today was Eryn,” Stock said. “Ilene ended up getting the goals, but Eryn did a great job of creating.”
The ‘Birds came within nine minutes of winning in regulation. Trailing 1-0 in the 81st minute, Houston’s Nikki Hawkins scored off of a turnover to tie the game.
“We did let down a little bit,” Stock said. “That goal definitely could have been prevented. Those are the things we need to eliminate going into conference play.”
Houston also had a chance to take a 2-1 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Cougars’ Leslie Guevara took a pass and shot it into the net, but the goal was negated on an offside penalty.
Stock said the Cougars were similar to the top teams of the Mid-Con Conference.
“To get a win over a team of this caliber is huge for us,” Stock

 

SUU defender Sarah Sillitoe fights past a Houston player Monday during the Thunderbirds’ 2-1 overtime win. SUU finished its home schedule with the victory. The team is in good shape with a 1-1 conference record.
ANNIE BROWN / UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

said. “We have been battling teams like this all season and playing them close and doing good things. Today we were just able to take advantage of the stuff that we’re creating.”
Monday also marked the final home game for seniors Lindsay Mulliner and Angie Profancik.
“They were definitely ready to play,” Stock said. “They were excited, but sad at the same time. What a great way to go out. It’s been amazing to see the growth and maturity and how this young program is being built.”
Stock also said the two years of experience that Mulliner and Profancik brought to the program last season brought maturity to the young team.
Now the ‘Birds finish the season with road games starting Friday against Valparaiso, then on to IUPUI, Oral Roberts and Arkansas-Little Rock. If SUU beats IUPUI (0-3 in Mid-Con play) on Sunday, it will automatically earn a Mid-Con Tournament berth.
A win against Valpraiso or Oral Roberts and a loss by IUPUI to Oakland will also give the T-Birds a playoff spot.