Soccer is a 90-minute game.
However, two minutes was all that was necessary for the Austin Peay Governors to take down WKU on Thursday, as the Hilltoppers fell in their season opener 2-1.
“Soccer can be a cruel game,” WKU head coach Jason Neidell said. “We dug ourselves a pretty big hole going down two goals early in the second half and just didn’t have enough to equalize and get back into the game.”
The Governors scored two goals in just over a minute, the first one coming in the 47th. The Hilltoppers were able to get on the board with a goal by freshman Ashton Lynam in the 77th minute. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Davis kept Austin Peay out of the net for the remaining time, but the WKU was unable to score a tying goal.
The loss starts WKU out 0-1 on the season. They outshot the Governors 11-10 and 7-6 on shots on goal. Davis tallied four saves in the game.
Lynham scored the first goal of her collegiate career. It also marks as the first time a freshman has scored WKU’s first goal of the season since 2020, when Ellie Belcher scored against South Alabama.
“It was nice to see Ashton Lynam score her first collegiate goal,” Neidell said. “I love this group, and there are better days ahead.”
The Hilltoppers will look to turn things around in their home opener as they host Union (Tenn) at the WKU Soccer Complex on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
