FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-6-05

College Soccer: Armstrong Atlantic 2, SCAD 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Claire McCombe’s goal in the 53rd minute snapped a 1-all tie and gave the inaugural Armstrong Atlantic women’s soccer squad a 2-1 victory over cross-town rival Savannah College of Art & Design on Tuesday evening in the Pirates’ home opener.

McCombe’s game-winner came less than a minute after SCAD (1-2) tied the game at 1-all on Kelly Quinn’s goal off of a free kick. Lindsey Krakowiak fed a short pass on the kick to Evans, who found Quinn in the box for a quick turnaround shot and the goal. The Pirates answered quickly as Shana Neves had the ball in the box and fed McCombe in front of the net for the quick go-ahead tally.

Both teams played an even first-half that would have been scoreless, but with 14.3 seconds left, Aubrie Roberts put the homestanding Pirates (2-2) on the board on a ricochet from a corner kick. Jessica Chipple headed Donna Cheyne’s corner into a SCAD defender, and Roberts put the deflection into the net for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead into halftime.

After the Pirates went ahead, 2-1, the teams played evenly the rest of the way. With 7:30 remaining in the second half, however, an injury to starting keeper Tarra Kohler forced AASU to bring in freshman keeper Lisa Gray, who had one save to preserve the victory. Kohler’s injury to her right leg forced a stoppage of play for nearly 25 minutes and she will be out indefinitely.

AASU led in shots taken, 23-15, and Kohler made seven saves before she had to exit. SCAD changed goalkeepers at halftime as Laura Hansen made six saves and allowed one goal in the first half, then Lisa Gallant registered seven saves and allowed the game-winning goal in the second half.

The Pirates return to action on Friday, September 9, as AASU travels to Saint Leo to face the Lions at 4:00 p.m. SCAD also returns to action on Friday as they travel to West Palm Beach to face Palm Beach Atlantic at 7:00 p.m.

- Pirates -