Coastal falls in heart breaker to South Alabama

Coastal Carolina women’s soccer fell to South Alabama on Sunday, Oct. 15 by a score of 2-1 in overtime at the CCU Soccer Complex. The Chanticleers looked as if they would get an early goal in the 11th-minute, but senior forward Daniella Famili’s shot was saved by the South Alabama goalkeeper. Famili would try for goal again just three minutes, but her shot was saved again. South Alabama nearly broke the nil-nil deadlock in the 20th-minute but Rio Hardy’s shot hit the crossbar and was cleared by the Chanticleer defense. Junior midfielder Brooke Horist nearly found the back of the net with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half, but her attempt was blocked by the South Alabama defense and the score would remain 0-0 going into the half. Freshman forward Mackenzie Gibbs wasted no time in the second half in trying to get the Chanticleers ahead within the first minute of the half, but her header shot went just wide. The South Alabama offense kept freshman goalkeeper Rylee Atteberry and the Chanticleer defense on their toes, registering three shots in a 10-minute span. The Jaguars would go on and outshoot the Chanticleers in the second half by an 8 to 6 margin. South Alabama’s Hardy had been a nuisance all game for the Chanticleer defense, and the forward finally broke through and scored in the 70th-minute, putting the Jaguars up 1-0 with less than 20 minutes to spare. Coastal Carolina instantly responded as Famili was taken down in the box and the senior scored from the spot in the 73rd-minute, tying things up. It was Famili’s ninth goal of the season. The final 10 minutes of regulation was a difficult one for the Chanticleers as the team saw sophomore defender Kylie Bostick get a red card in the 84th-minute, putting the team a man down for the remainder of the half and into regulation. Bostick will have to miss the next two games. In overtime, the Chanticleers struggled to string passes together and force a winning goal. After a miscommunication in the midfield, the Jaguars pounced on the loose ball and scored on the breakaway in the 97th-minute, sealing a 2-1 victory. The loss puts the Chanticleers at 9-6-1 on the year and 4-4-1 in conference play. The Chanticleers will host South Carolina State on Tuesday, Oct. 17 for their final home game of 2017. The team will honor their two seniors, Daniella Famili and Brenna Leftwich. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.