ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior defender
Kelly Coughenour had birthday luck on her side as she scored the first goal of her career to help the Eckerd College women's soccer team top Clearwater Christian College on Thursday night at Turley Athletic Complex, 3-0.
The Tritons (3-0, 0-0 SSC) and the Cougars (3-2) barely fit the game in as lightning threatened play for Eckerd's third straight home game. After being delayed with just a minute remaining before the 70-minute requirement was met, both teams cleared the field as lightning entered the surrounding areas.
Twenty minutes later, play resumed before referees finally called the game due to lightning with just 10:33 remaining.
The Tritons came out to a slow start, but Coughenour sent a shot over CCC goalkeeper Charity Nelson's head in the 28th minute to get the Tritons on the board. Senior
Erin Davis earned the assist.
In the 62nd minute, midfielder
Abbey Walter was fouled and was awarded a penalty kick. Walter sent her shot to the left side of the goal just out of Nelson's reach to pick up her first goal of the season, giving Eckerd a 2-0 lead.
Davis added Eckerd's final goal after the first lightning delay, sending a shot from deep into the back of the net.
All three Triton scorers tallied their first goals on the season.
"I'm so proud of Kelly coming in and getting the first goal, and for Erin stepping up too," head coach
Danielle Fotopoulos said. "We have had a lot of rain delays in our games, so it was really important to keep the team focused."
But one goal was all the Tritons would need as its defense held CCC to only four shots -- none in the second half of play.
Junior
Morgan Crescent picked up two saves in the first half.
Eckerd returns to play in its fourth game of a six-game homestand against Florida Memorial University on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST at Turley Athletic Complex.
Live stats and video will be available on
http://www.eckerdtritons.com/.
