Hedlund & Mean Green Soccer Get 300th Win
DENTON -- North Texas head women's soccer coach John Hedlund always finds a way to win. The Mean Green soccer team was forced out of its comfort zone on Friday night but still was able to give their coach his 300th career victory with a 4-0 win against Incarnate Word.
The season opener was almost canceled after the referees deemed the Mean Green Soccer Stadium unplayable due to the heavy rainfall. The coaches made a few phone calls, and the game was moved to nearby Denton High School and started 45 minutes late.
The turf field and the late start did not faze the Mean Green. The team took an early lead and was able to add to that total three more times. The squad dominated on both sides of the ball, holding the advantage in shots and allowing just six shots on goal.
"I'm really proud of the way the girls came out and played tonight," said Hedlund. "Playing with a high intensity level and tremendous work rate is what we're about and it was pretty to watch from start to finish from this young team tonight."
Senior forward Rachel Holden started off right where she left on last year when she was named the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year. She headed in a goal from close range in the third minute to get the offense going. She was then taken down in the box midway through the first period, and classmate Marchelle Davis converted the penalty kick.
Davis collected her second goal of the game in the second half off a pass from Tori Phillips in the second half, aiming a shot to lower right-hand corner of the goal. Phillips converted with her own goal in the 76th minute with a laser from 30 yards out.
Sophomore Brooke Bradley looked comfortable in goal, making six saves en route to her first career victory and shutout.
"My time at North Texas has always been about the great players, assistant coaches and staff that I've had over the years that really make this special number of 300 wins even possible," said Hedlund. "It's been a privilege for me to be a part of this success especially at such a great institution."
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