Mean Green soccer wins fourth straight, defeats Oklahoma and McNeese State
Akshay Mirchandani / Staff Writer
The Mean Green soccer team is in the midst of a four-game winning streak after earning a pair of victories this weekend. On Friday, the Mean Green (6-2) beat McNeese State University at home 2-0 and, on Sunday, traveled to beat the University of Oklahoma 5-0.
McNeese State
Against McNeese State (5-2-1), UNT’s two goals in the first half were all it needed for the victory.
The goals came from senior defender Shelly Holt and freshman midfielder Allison Harper, both scoring for the first time in their careers.
“Our defense just held strong and kept the shutout,” senior forward Vanessa Ibewuike said. “Our keeper was amazing, she showed and she stepped up and made a couple of big saves for us and we were able to get out of there with a good home win.”’
Oklahoma
On Sunday, the Mean Green smashed Oklahoma (3-5) on its home turf, handing the Sooners its fifth loss of the season.
“We beat a very good OU team today, a team that lost only 1-0 at No. 3 Florida State last week,” head coach John Hedlund said in a press release. “If this 5-0 result does not put us somewhere in the top 20, then there is obviously something wrong with the system.”
Freshman forward Rachel Holden notched her second hat trick of the season and her nine goals on the season rank top ten in the nation. Sophomore forward Amber Haggerty and freshman forward Allison Harper had one goal each.
“When I score it helps me to look at things more positively and it helps me to work harder,” Holden said. “But also if I don’t score I still try to get that goal and still try to help my team out.”
It was the fourth straight shutout for sophomore goalkeeper Haley Riley, filling in for junior Jackie Kerestine, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate legiment (ACL) on Sept. 1. Four games is the second longest shutout streak in program history.
“My mindset coming into a game is that I’m super confident because of the players I play behind,” Riley said. “I know that they have my back.
The Mean Green will be back in action on Sept. 20 when it travels to Waco to play Baylor University, who is ranked No. 10 in the nation.
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