Goalie Jessica Garcia scored two goals, including a late game-winner, as the Prairie View women’s soccer team defeated Southern 3-2 Sunday afternoon. The win improved the Lady Panthers’ record to 2-0 in SWAC division play.
“It was a good game, they were very aggressive,” said Garcia. “Southern is pretty much our rival and because of that we had to show more heart than them, and I think we did.”
PV coach Felicia Tarver-Davis echoed Garcia’s sentiments. “I felt the effort was good, a huge effort. We had to make a few adjustments at halftime, but the effort was definitely there today. Hopefully we can feed off the win today. We have won two and we have two more to go to win the division.”
After a scoreless first half, Southern’s Amanda Soto-Ortiz put the Jaguars (4-8) on the board with a goal early in the second half.
Minutes later, Garcia was brought up for offensive purposes and scored the first of her two goals in a free kick to tie the game 1-1, soon followed by a goal from Nivea Washington making the score 2-1.
After Southern tied the game with a second goal, Garcia was once again brought from the goalie box to try and provide some offense, this time on a penalty kick. Garcia scored to put PV ahead 3-2.
“It was the game plan to bring her in on the penalty kick and it was a perfect shot,” said Tarver-Davis.
The Lady Panthers held on in the final ten minutes and defeated Southern University.