Egan Scores Twice as WKU Soccer Shuts Out Sam Houston

WKU Athletics Media Release

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Hilltoppers (7-1-4) earned their first CUSA win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Sam Houston Thursday night at the WKU Soccer Complex. The Hilltoppers move to 1-1-0 in CUSA play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hilltoppers came out aggressive early in the first half. In the 12th minute, Maggie Bellair found Danielle Lewin, who threaded a pass to Makenna Egan for the first shot and goal of the match.
• Two minutes and 15 seconds later, Egan took on a defender 1v1 before finding the back of the net from the top of the box for her second goal of the night to put the Hilltoppers up 2-0.
• The Tops added three more shots on goal before halftime but could not the back of the net.
• The Hilltoppers carried their offensive attack into the second half. In the 59th minute, Lewin fired a shot, but the attempt was deflected by the diving goalkeeper, with the rebound falling to Alyvia Walls, whose follow-up went just wide of the left post.
• Tyler Roth followed suit in the 67th minute, firing a laser toward the top corner, but the Bearkats’ goalkeeper got a hand to it to keep the Hilltoppers’ at a two-goal lead. In the final minutes, Sam Houston made one last offensive push, but goalkeeper Mia Riddick came up with a clutch save on a shot toward the top of the net to secure the shutout.

QUOTABLE

“We wanted to start strong,” said Head Coach Jason Neidell on tonight’s bounce-back win. “We set a goal to score in the first 15 minutes and not only did we score once, but we scored twice. Obviously, that was very decisive in the game. My message to them after the game was just great job. We needed three points and this was a big game for us.”

“I think just getting my confidence back in front of the goal was important,” said sophomore forward Makenna Egan on her two-goal performance. “I have had some near misses in the past few games, so I think finally getting my shots low and on target was working for me tonight.”

NOTABLES

• This was the Hilltoppers’ first CUSA win of the season
• WKU outshot the Bearkats 16-6, with Sam Houston only recording three shots on goal.
• The shutout was the Hilltoppers’ eighth of the season
• Makenna Egan scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season, surpassing her five-goal total from last season and marking her second brace of the season
• Junior Maggie Bellair recorded her third assist of the season and the fifth of her career
• Danielle Lewin’s assist was her third this season and the seventh of her career
• Goalkeeper Mia Riddick finished the match with three saves and recorded her sixth shutout of the season
• WKU moves to 3-1-0 against Sam Houston all-time

NEXT UP

The Hilltoppers will host CUSA opponent Missouri State on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 12 PM at the WKU Soccer Complex. Admission to all WKU Soccer games at the WKU Soccer Complex is free.