The Motlow Bucks ended a season-opening three-game road trip with a convincing 3-0 shutout over Gordon State College Thursday afternoon in Barnesville, GA.
Motlow (1-1-1) was scheduled to play its first home on Saturday, Aug. 26, but the opponent, Southern Union State, postponed the contest because of illness on the team. A makeup date has yet to be announced. The Bucks will travel to Douglas, GA, to face South Georgia State at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31.
The Bucks opened the season with two games in Ottumwa, Iowa. They dropped the season opener 5-0 to the nation's top-ranked team, Iowa Western. Motlow played the host school, Indian Hills, to a 0-0 draw in their second game in Iowa.
Bucks 3 Gordon State 0
Sophomore transfer forward Kaite Jones, from Belize, got the Bucks on the scoreboard early with a goal at the 6:23 mark of the first half on an assist from fellow transfer Alba Embid, a midfielder from Spain.
Motlow's defense smothered the Gordon State offense, allowing only two shots on goal. Manchester sophomore goalkeeper Lucy Riddle saw her first action of the season, earning one save and playing the final 45 minutes. Freshman Alina Arneth, from Germany, shut the home team down in the first half, also earning one save.
The 1-0 lead held until the 50:24 mark, when Murfreesboro sophomore Alysa Benton, the Bucks' leading returning scorer, nailed her first goal of the season unassisted. The final goal came at the 71:17 mark with sophomore Alexis McMath, from Florida, scoring with an assist from classmate Grace Murray, from Dalkeith, Scotland.
The Bucks dominated the statistics, taking 26 shots compared to only three for Gordon State. Motlow had eight corner kicks, with Gordon managing only three.
Freshman Libby Vincent, from Winchester, led the Bucks with three shots on goal. Classmate Camden Prosser from Smyrna, Embid, and Jones each had two shots.
Bucks in Iowa
Iowa Western, the defending national champion, scored three goals in the first 11 minutes in the season opener. Arneth had 13 saves as goalkeeper, but the Bucks managed only two shots against the tough Iowa Western defense.
The second game in Iowa, a 0-0 draw with host school Indian Hills, saw the Motlow defense and goalkeeping shine. Arneth had six saves, and the Bucks held the hosts to 12 shots while Motlow fired off nine. Vincent took three shots, including two on goal. Prosser, Reagan Miller, and Benton each had a shot on goal.
Follow the Bucks all season at MotlowSports.com, @motlowsports, and @motlowsoccer.
Motlow State Community College competes on the Division I level in baseball, softball, women's soccer, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The Bucks are a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) and compete in Region 7 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Control #: MOT-1906-23
Motlow State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Barbara Scales bscales@mscc.edu, 5002 Motlow College Blvd. Smyrna, TN 37167, 615-220-7976.
Sports Information
C. Scott Shasteen
931-247-5566
sshasteen@mscc.edu