The Lady Bucs soccer team hosted the 2007 Fall Invitational this weekend. Stetson, Tennessee Tech and Western Carolina were welcomed to the newly opened Summers Taylor Stadium. The Bucs kicked off their first game of the invitational Friday at 4 p.m. under a persistent driving rain.
The action opened fast as defensive miscues for the Bucs resulted in a quick goal by Rachel Martin-Trevino. Freshman Buccaneer Terri Miller answered right back with an unassisted goal. She said, “I just turned around and saw the shot, it was very instinctive.” The game turned in favor of Tennessee Tech as Ashley Smith scored on a penalty kick from teammate Kate Hoover.
The Bucs remained solid on the offensive end but were unable to find the back of the net until Kelly Brinkman’s corner kick found sophomore sensation Jordan Monty who used her head to tie the game up in the last minute of the first half.
Monty said, “I had to score that way we could come out in the second half with a tie game.” The second half was very exciting, as the Bucs were able to find shots, but they were unable to convert. After the game head coach Heather Henson said, “The Lady Bucs needed to put on the field what was practiced.” She went on to say that the adjustments the team was able to make in game were good, they just came 15 minutes too late. The field held up fantastically under the rain. The game ended in a 2-2 tie in two overtimes.
The second game, of the weekend invitational, for the Bucs kicked off at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The weather was gorgeous with sunny skies and not too hot. The Bucs were playing against Western Carolina in front of a crowd of about 200 people.
The Bucs returned to their physical style of play, frustrating the Western Carolina players and coaches all day. This game was played at a faster pace with a lot of up-and-down play reminiscent of a Phoenix Suns basketball game. Both teams were physical all game but it was unfortunate to see two Western Carolina players leave the game with serious leg injuries.
The two teams were evenly matched as both teams had ten shots on goal. The first half ended in 0-0 tie. The second half opened with the same physical up-and-down tone that was present the entire first half with neither team giving an inch. The Bucs got the only score of the game on a Kelly Brinkman penalty kick right in front of the net.
Goalie Erin Brilyeu was amazing all day preserving the shutout and wound up with four saves. It seemed that everyone was excited about the win after the game, and the record crowd was treated to autographs and the promotional activities of National Youth Soccer Month.
The Bucs will be back in action this Wednesday against Radford with a 4 p.m. home kickoff. The Lady Bucs record is now 2-1-2.

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