PRATT — Allen’s first conference road game of the season proved to be decisive in different ways for the men’s and women’s teams at Pratt Wednesday afternoon.
The No. 11 Lady Red Devils (3-0) got on the board only minutes into the game and scored two more times while holding Pratt scoreless for a 3-0 win.
The Red Devils (3-1) came out flat and could never recover from an early 3-0 deficit. Pratt got on the board early and often, scoring all of their goals in the first half. Allen struck with their only goal near the end of the second half.
Women’s soccer
Rebecca Lord scored Allen’s opening goal off an assist by Audrey Smith which she buried in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. Smith fed the pass from the corner which is when Lord stepped in front of the goal and poked in Smith’s pass.
“I knew I had a strong starting 10 but the fact they play soccer this fast and good is huge,” said McGinnis. “I was impressed in the preseason how well we moved the ball. It’s so hard to take things from training to games but the fact they’re relaying things over gives me a lot of pride and hope we can do some great things.”
Lord scored again off a pass from the corner for the 2-0 advantage.
The player of the year for Allen so far has been sophomore midfielder Lizeth Ayala, who scored off a Lord assist for the 3-0 halftime lead.
“Lizeth and Rebecca have worked together all summer long. Lizeth is very comfortable with the ball at her feet and is very technical,” said McGinnis. “I think we came out a bit too comfortable and then got better as the game went on.”
Lord led the Lady Red Devils with a team-high four shots on goal and five shots total. Smith had three shots and two shots on goal. Keimari Simons also had two shots, both on goal, while Ayala footed three shots and one shot on goal.
Pratt struggled to gain much of any possession and only had one shot on goal in the first half and three shots on goal total.
Lady Red Devil goalkeeper Lucia Solanilla Leo had to pinch herself to stay awake, making one save the entire match.
The No. 11-in the country Lady Red Devils will face off against No. 10 Johnson County on Saturday in a nationally recognized NJCAA women’s soccer game.
Men’s soccer
Pratt took control of the game early and footed five shots on goal, three of them reaching the back of the net in the opening half.
