Soccer player makes Hoosier history

IU vs. Arkansas State

Junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy found the back of the net three times Friday night, leading the team to a 3-0 victory. She became the first woman in IU soccer history to score two hat tricks in her career.

“I didn’t expect that, but scoring three goals is awesome,” Nouanesengsy said. “My teammates set me up pretty well, and I just finished them. Couldn’t do it without them.”

Nouanesengsy started the game strong, scoring her initial goal off an assist from junior forward Rebecca Candler within the first minute. A penalty kick in the ninth minute gave her the opportunity for her second, giving IU an early 2-0 lead.

Her third and final goal came in the second half off an assist from sophomore midfielder Monica Melink, rounding the score for IU.     

IU Coach Mick Lyon said the hat trick is a personal accomplishment for Nouanesengsy, and she improves with each game.

“That’s down to her hard work and commitment to wanting to be not only a good soccer player, but a top level, the best,” Lyon said. “I’m very proud from that perspective.”

IU’s defense remained solid throughout the match, securing a shutout for the Hoosiers and leaving junior goalie Shannon Flower with only two saves for the game.   

“Going into this game, I think we had a lot of energy,” junior midfielder Becca Zambon said. “We wanted to come out and show everybody what we’ve been working on. For our defense, we just wanted to get a shutout and play some good balls so the forwards could score.”

Lyon said he feels confident about each player’s role on the field. Despite a few minor adjustments that might need to be made, he said he believes the team looks good.  

“I thought that we would dominate as far as creating good chances, and they did a nice job of proving that right,” Lyon said. “I think it just sets a tone for the next game. It was a good night for IU women’s soccer.”

IU vs. Ohio

In a tit for tat match against Ohio on Sunday, the IU women’s soccer team came out on top, matching each Ohio goal with one of its own. This led to a 4-2 victory.

“I think we just came out really confident today,” junior goalkeeper Shannon Flower said. “We knew what we had to do and continued what we did on Friday.”

In the 18th minute, junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy dribbled the ball in from midfield, defeated two defenders and scored the Hoosiers’ first goal of the game.   

Ohio retaliated, with Maggie Murnane heading the ball in to tie the game. Almost immediately afterward, Ohio’s Cat Rogers put one in off a penalty kick to bring the
Bobcats into the lead.  

The Hoosiers remained calm.

“At no point was I worried,” IU Coach Mick Lyon said. “Even with the second goal, I didn’t get off the seat, because it’s not about what I can impart on the game. It’s what the players themselves are going to impart on the game.”

Senior forward Orianica Velasquez, fresh from her stint with Team Colombia at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, scored the Hoosiers’ second goal off a free kick. This was a minute after Ohio’s penalty kick, tying  the game yet again.

“I didn’t get to play the last game, so I was so happy I could score one, and I hope to keep scoring,” Velasquez said. “It was good to play a game with my team.”

To round out the scoring for the first half and give IU the lead, sophomore midfielder Jordan Woolums dribbled past three defenders for an unassisted goal a minute before the buzzer.

IU returned to the pitch after halftime with force, keeping Ohio from scoring.
“I think we started off a little fast just from adrenaline,” Flower said. “Once we calmed down, I thought we played really well. I was completely confident in my team the whole time.”

A single goal in the second half by sophomore midfielder Rebecca Dreher gave the Hoosiers a more substantial lead against Ohio, bringing them to victory.

Lyon said he plans to work with the players’ individual traits in practice this week, but overall he is pleased with the outcome of the game and the weekend as a whole.

“I think the best part is the character that the team showed in dealing with adversity and responding,” Lyon said. “It’s never a bad weekend when you start off 2-0.”