Thomas scores early, Kerns adds two in shutot

SPANTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 6, 2012) – The ETSU women’s soccer team scored three first-half goals, which proved to be all it needed in shutting out USC Upstate, 3-0, on Saturday night in Atlantic Sun action at County University Soccer Stadium.

Junior Ramey Kerns (Kings Mountain, N.C.) was the game’s leading scorer, netting her 14th and 15th goals of the season toward the end of the first half. Senior Morgan Thomas (Maryville, Tenn.) opened the scoring, putting ETSU (9-4-0, 3-2-0 A-Sun) ahead just six minutes in, and later was fouled in the box to setup a penalty conversion by Kerns.

For the game, ETSU handled USC Upstate (2-12-0, 0-5-0 A-Sun) 18-7 in the shot department, including a 13-3 edge through the first half. Freshman Sarah Zadrazil (St. Gilgen, Austria) created a multitude of chances, setting up Thomas’ goal from the corner and assisting Kerns’ second goal with four minutes remaining in the opening half.

“We started the game very well, which was one of the objectives we set before the game,” ETSU head coach Adam Sayers said. “We wanted to impose ourselves on the game from the start, and we did with the early goal. I thought we maintained possession well throughout, our passing was crisp, our movement was good and we were able to create a lot of chances as the half wore on.”

Thomas got things rolling for the Lady Bucs early on, scoring her second goal of the year to put ETSU up in the sixth minute. Zadrazil lined up a corner, which a Spartan defender got ahold of and attempted to clear. Thomas intercepted the clearance, took a touch and fired a shot that hit off an Upstate defender and ricocheted past keeper Sarah Plantz.

Thomas’ goal was just the start of a very offensive and possession controlled half for the Lady Bucs, which saw them take 13 shots and seven corners.  Kerns had a good opportunity in the early going, but had her first attempt of the night saved by Plantz.

Still holding just a one-goal lead, Thomas stepped up and created the Lady Bucs’ second goal. The senior midfielder took the ball past an Upstate defender in the penalty area, and was tripped up from behind, resulting in referee JJ Blodgett whistling for the penalty kick. Kerns stepped up and converted her third successful chance in three tries this year to put ETSU up by two.

The conference’s leading goal scorer was not done, scoring her 15th goal of the season less than four minutes later. Zadrazil took the ball down the middle of the field, and found Kerns on a through ball. The Kings Mountain native fired a shot that clipped the right post and went in for the three-goal lead.

“I was very happy with the two goals heading into halftime,” Sayers added. “I felt we controlled the game throughout the second half, and were able to come away with the result.”

The shot count was closer at 5-4 through the second half, but ETSU still maintained the majority of possession and held the Spartans’ chances from low-percentage areas. Of three shots that came on goal, freshman keeper Sierra Campbell (Thompson’s Station, Tenn.) was there to make the save. Fellow classmate Kara Krajenta (Cordova, Tenn.) started and played the first half, earning the win and improving her record to 5-3-0.

ETSU had some good chances as well in the second half, with opportunities flying off the feet of Zadrazil and Alexa Passingham (Leicestershire, England). Zadrazil finished the game with four in total and three on goal. It was Kerns who led the game, as she took five shots before being subbed on for by Molly Vaughn (Nashville, Tenn.) in the 64th minute.

The Lady Bucs return home next weekend for their final two home games of the season, facing off against Northern Kentucky on Friday and Lipscomb on Sunday.

ETSU Notes

- Ramey Kerns scored twice to post her fourth multi-goal game of the year. The junior now has 15 on the year, extending the school record she broke last weekend at Kennesaw State.

- Morgan Thomas scored her second goal of the year, taking in the game-winner with a score in the sixth minute of play. Her other was a game-winner as well, scoring the golden goal in the win at UNC Asheville.

- Sarah Zadrazil registered her eight assist of the season, and is now just two behind former Buccaneer Katie Green’s school record from 2007.

- ETSU improves to 6-0 against USC Upstate all-time, with Saturday night’s result being the first win to come by more than one goal when playing in Spartanburg.

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For more information on ETSU women’s soccer, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s soccer links.