Published: September 02, 2008 11:46 pm      

Union dominates MSU, 6-0

To paraphrase The Constitution, underclassmen Marcela Salum and Renata Peixoto formed a more perfect Union Tuesday.

The underclassmen combined for five goals as unbeaten Union College from Barboursville, Kentucky, overpowered Mountain State University 8-0 at the YMCA Soccer Complex.

Salum, a tall freshman from Guatemala, drilled a shot from 30 yards out in the 22nd minute for the Bulldogs’ second goal of the contest.

The ball carried high into the top and back of the net over leaping MSU and Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference goalkeeper Christina Baker.

“She’s a stud,” coach Jason Lanham said. “How many 6-foot forwards do you see on the women’s side that can not only use their heads and win balls out of the air, but are also solid on their feet?

Salum later scored in the 34th minute, off the hands of a diving Baker, and in the 57th minute.

Peixoto, a sophomore from Brazil, didn’t hit any long shots. She didn’t have to, actually, as she easily dribbled her way through MSU’s defense.

She sidestepped two defenders for her first goal in the 30th minute, then left another Cougar flatfooted before beating Baker in the 38th minute.

“Renata is going to be one of the top players in the (Appalachian Athletic) Conference,” Lanham said. “She came her last year and scored five goals and four assists in a defensive midfield role. We’re giving her a chance to play (offense) and she has six goals and seven assists in the first three games.”

Union has not surrendered a goal in three matches, including a 4-0 win over WVU Tech at the YMCA Soccer Complex last week and a 9-0 blasting of Tennessee Tech.

“We’ve got some firepower we haven’t had in the past,” Lanham said. “It’s going to be an offensive year.”

Heather Jaques, Ashley Hall and Jessica Florence also scored for the Bulldogs.

Unfortunately for MSU (0-2), the Cougars could answer with very little firepower of their own.

Sophomore forward Erica Alderman, the KIAC’s leading scorer last season, was serving the first of a two-day suspension for receiving a red card in MSU’s 2-1 loss at Bluefield College last week.

Coach Kelly Borck moved midfielder Manuela Acosta, the 2007 KIAC assist leader, to forward for the match.

It proved to no avail as MSU, with just 13 players available for action on the hottest day in over three weeks, seldom could get the ball past the midfield stripe.

“Missing one of our key players really hurt,” Borck said. “When it’s 90 degrees and you have only 11 (field players), it’s a battle. A lot of things worked against us.”

Union took 19 shots on goal to none for MSU. Baker made seven saves while backup keeper Megan Alderman had two.

Borck expects to add two players from Ireland over the next week.

“I talked to them Saturday,” she said. “Hopefully they’re coming in.”

The Cougars return to action against Ohio Valley College at 2 p.m. Friday at the YMCA Soccer Complex.

— E-mail:dstillwell@

register-herald.com



Union (Ky.) 8, Mountain State University 0

Goals: Union: Heather Jaques (14th minute), Marcela Salum (22, 34, 57), Renata Peixoto (30, 38), Ashley Hall (54), Jessica Florence (65). Shots on goal: Union: Jaques 1, Karla Goncalves 1, Estephania Cirigliano 1, Salum 4, Peixoto 3, Ashley Hall 1, Florence 1, Jessica Courter 1, Yashika Dixon 1, Melanie Hester 1. Keeper saves: MSU 9 (Christina Baker 7, Megan Alderman 2).