Lubbock, Texas – The ASU Soccer team went on the road this evening and, for the first time in conference play this season, claimed a victory on the road, downing Lubbock Christian 1-0, with the difference being Gabby Villagrand's goal in the 48th minute off a corner kick.
"It's good to get a win and get a shutout on the road," said head coach Travis McCorkle. "[Those] things that we haven't done in conference play yet."
A cagey affair that saw only 12 total shots between the two teams, with only five coming on target, also saw the Belles earn the only two corner kicks of the match; both teams only combined for 11 fouls on the evening.
The Belles forced five shots in the first half, including four in the opening 20 minutes of the match, while not allowing the Lady Chaps to have a single shot in the first half.
A shot by Avery McNeme in the 48th minute took a deflection off an LCU defender and won the Belles their first corner of the evening. The senior then sent in the ensuing corner into the penalty area, finding the forward, who directed her header into the top left corner of the Lady Chaps' goal. The goal is Villagrand's third of the season, and the assist is an LSC-best ninth one on the season for McNeme.
The Belles, however, did not concede in the following moments of the match like they had done in the past.
"We talked about it, we've talked about it in training. We talked about it in the games," said McCorkle about the Belles' defense after going 1-0 up. "The key, I think for us, was we were a little bit more confident in winning the headers and if we're going to win a 50/50 ball, that we're going to try and clear it out."
All four of the Lady Chaps' shots came after the goal; however, only one found the Belles goal, which was promptly saved by Belles keeper Kira Miller.
The shutout is Miller's and the Belles' eighth of the season. Miller leads all goalkeepers in the LSC in that category.
The Belles are 10-2-2 overall and 5-2-2 in conference play. The win moves the Belles up to third in the LSC standings on 17 points; the Belles return to action at home on Saturday when they host UT Tyler.
