RICHARDSON, Tex. - With three games scheduled in as many days for the Cal Lutheran women's soccer team, the Regals came out on the short end of their first contest in Texas, dropping a 4-1decision to Hardin-Simmons on neutral turf at UT-Dallas this evening.
CLU took an early lead, but the lone goal they could produce came in the 9th minute. A Hardin-Simmons foul allowed the Regals a free kick. Kristina Hulse tapped the ball to Yahaira Hernandez who found an open Bianca Deardorff for the first crooked number of the game, also marking the first CLU goal of Deardorff's career.
The lead was short lived for the Regals who were called for back-to-back fouls that allowed a penalty kick. Cowgirls junior Julianne Kucera placed the ball into the right corner of the net to equalize the score two minutes later.
After halftime HSU broke the tie in the 59th minute when Katie Haltiwagner scored on an assist from Vivian Wells. Kucera followed up with her second goal of the game in the 62nd minute, leaving the Regals at a 3-1 deficit. Haltiwagner then dished out an assist to Devon Howard at the 73:03 mark to push the Cowgirls lead to 4-1.
For the first time this season CLU was outshot, earning just eight opportunities while Hardin-Simmons (2-1) fired off 16 shots. The Regals finished with just one corner kick and the Cowgirls tallied five.
Kristin Bailey played all 90 minutes in front of the CLU goal, recording three saves. Her counterpart, Lexi Stinson, saved three shots in the contest for HSU. Hulse took two of those shots that were on goal and Brittany Eremita had a shot on target as well.
Coming off the bench the trio of Julie Kearns, Katelyn Kimball and Nancy Nunez each made her CLU debut tonight.
Cal Lutheran (1-2) will be back in action tomorrow when they play UT-Dallas at 5:30 p.m. PST
Box Score: HSU 4, CLU 1
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