Official Stats
JACKSON – Playing on a cool, fall night at Harper Davis Field, the Millsaps college women’s soccer team (7-5-3) gave up two first half goals and was unable to recover from the early deficit as it dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Birmingham-Southern College.
Birmingham-Southern was able to generate some early pressure when Millsaps junior goalkeeper
Sarah Nelin misjudged a ball coming into the box allowing Serena Murphy to gain possession and pass to Emmy Hollis, who fired a shot that sailed just over the top of the empty goal just three minutes into the match.
Less than five minutes later, the Panthers were again on the attack as Murphy got behind the Majors’ defense and with only Nelin to beat, poked a shot wide of the goal.
However, in the 22nd minute, the Panthers struck first when a Millsaps defender took down Alicia Plotky in the box resulting in a penalty kick. Lydia Rice converted the kick giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Just five minutes later, Murphy gained control of the ball at midfield after a Millsaps corner kick was cleared. She then passed to teammate Sara Menton who beat a Majors’ defender to the ball, turned the corner and was off to the races.
As Nelin came out of the goal to challenge the play, Menton slid the ball under the goalkeeper for a 2-0 Birmingham-Southern advantage heading into the halftime break.
Opening the second half, senior
Leslie Robichaux got the ball near the top of the box and ripped a shot that flew wide right of the goal as the Majors looked to cut into the Panthers’ lead.
Throughout the remainder of the second half, both team battled for possession in the midfield with neither team generating any quality scoring chances as Millsaps increased its intensity to counter the Birmingham-Southern attack.
The Majors will be back in action next Friday night as they travel to Greencastle, Ind., for a conference match with DePauw University starting at 6:00 p.m.