SIOUX FALLS — Juniors
Lily McKown and
Erin O'Tool as well as freshman
Taylor Kelley all scored their first career goals as the University of Sioux Falls Soccer Team (1-1-0) defeated Black Hills State (0-3-0), 4-0, in nonconference action. USF, which led 1-0 at halftime, scored three second-half goals and the four total scores represented the most since Sept. 26, 2015 (USF 4 U-Mary 3, OT).
The Cougars controlled the game with their relentless offensive attack and shutdown defense. USF attempted 17 total shots, 11 shots on goal, which resulted in four goals. Kelley, McKown, O'Tool, as well as senior
Chessa Novotny, tallied timely goals as USF picked up its first win of the season.
USF's junior goalkeeper
Brayden Paul recorded her first career shutout which included two saves. The USF defense left little room for the BHSU offense to operate and only allowed four total shots, two of which were on goal. The Cougar defense controlled the entirety of the first half, not allowing a single shot on goal.
USF remained scoreless the majority of the first half until freshman
Taylor Kelley tallied her first career goal in her second game at USF. She took a crossing pass from sophomore
Kassidy Graber in the 42
nd minute and buried it in the back of the net. The half ended with USF up 1-0.
The Cougars did not loosen their attack to begin the second half as Novotny drilled a crossing pass from junior McKayla Phillipi past the goalkeeper to put USF up 2-0 at 56:20. For Novotny, the goal was the first of the season and the fifth of her career.
USF continued to apply pressure to BHSU, using an 11-2 shot advantage to control action.
At the 78:04 mark, McKown, who had a team-best three goals on goal, received a crossing pass from junior
Becca Schmitz and finessed the ball past the goalkeeper for the third goal of the game and the first of her career. Ten minutes later at 88:22, O'Tool finished off the scoring with a header off of a corner kick from sophomore
Lindsey Power. Novotny recorded two shots on goal, and six other Cougars each recorded one shot on goal to keep the BHSU goalkeeper busy the entire match.
The USF Soccer Team will host Southwest Minnesota State (0-2-0) on Friday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m., at the USF Sports Complex.