Rachel Essner
Staff Writer
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The Murray State soccer team doubled their winning streak against Louisiana Tech University on Sunday, August 22, at Cutchin Field.

The Racers (2-0) defeated the Techsters (1-1) 3-2 with two goals from redshirt senior midfielder Symone Cooper and one from junior midfielder Lauren Payne. Junior goalkeeper Jenna Villacres tallied four saves.

LA Tech’s sophomore forward Emma Jones put the Techsters on the board first with a goal in the 16th minute. The Techsters doubled their score in the 36th minute with a goal from sophomore forward Maci Geltmeier, making the score 2-0.

The Racers fought back at the end of the first half, with Payne scoring a penalty kick after an LA Tech foul inside the penalty area in the 39th minute, ending the half with the Racers trailing 2-1.

The Racers carried their momentum over to the second half with a Cooper goal assisted by freshman defender Morgan Bodker. They tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth minute of the second half.

Murray State took the lead in the 23rd minute with another goal from Cooper on a deflected corner kick, giving the Racers a 3-2 advantage that would last until the end.

The Racers ended the match with 18 total shots, 12 of those on goal. LA Tech finished with six of 14 shots on goal. Murray State

improved its record to 2-0  overall.

“We created some opportunities but were unfortunate,” Head Coach Matt Lodge said. “Credit to Louisiana Tech, they were a tough opponent, and they came in here ready to scrap and put us on our back foot.”

Murray State will head to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take on Xavier University at noon on Sunday, Aug. 29.