By: Habtom Keleta-Asst. AD for Media Relations
Box Score GRAMBLING, La. | It took Grambling only 54 seconds to take control of Sunday's match as junior forward
Kailey Pena found the back of the net in the first minute of action off a brilliant cross from freshman teammate
Sydney Gober in one of the fastest goals scored in both the history of Grambling State University soccer as well as the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the Tigers punished Texas Southern University by the score of 3-0 at the GSU Soccer Complex in SWAC play. The victory was head coach
Craig Roberts' first win as head coach of the GSU Tigers soccer team.
"I'm delighted to get our first win under our belt," said Roberts. "The players and I have belief in each other. We understand it's a process and as time goes by, we will get strong," he added. "Improving every practice and every game is our goal. We will make mistakes along the way, but that is fine because those moments are simply coachable moments. These young ladies are a pleasure to coach."
After the heartbreaking last-minute loss to Prairie View, the Tigers wasted no time and came out on a mission, dominating Texas Southern 14-1 in first half shots as Pena (1 min.) and Gober's (23rd min.) goals gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead at the break.
Pena added a second-half goal before the final whistle to add to her season total (four goals) while the back line and keeper continued to hold Texas Southern out of the final third for most of the match. Gober shined all afternoon; the Rockwall native finished with one goal and one assist, blazing by her defenders on the pitch.
Goalkeeper
Britt Verhees played the full 90 minutes and managed two saves in her first clean sheet of the season.
For his first career victory as Grambling head soccer coach, Roberts was presented with the game ball from Grambling Director of Athletics Dr. David Ponton.
Up Next
Grambling returns to the pitch on Friday, March 5 when the team travels to Alabama to face SWAC opponent Alabama A&M University. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Bulldog Soccer Fields in Huntsville, Ala.
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