BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Senior Amanda Buechel (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored two second half goals to propel Western Kentucky University to a 2-0 win over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both squads.
Buechel scored multiple goals in a game for the third time this season and increased her season point total to 13.
Buechel got her first goal on a set piece when Rymer placed a corner to the near post where Buechel deflected in the ball while being surrounded by multiple defenders. The goal came in the 52nd minute. Her second goal came just ten minutes later when Nicholette Sartori and Christen Sims contributed assists on the play.
"We played a really good first half, particularly through the midfield. Courtney Rymer, Allie Auscherman and Chrissy Tchoula were really spectacular in the midfield. We had some trouble creating good chances in the first half. We got under our kids skin at the half to try to get them a little hungrier and Amanda came out and scored two goals."
WKU (6-3-0, 1-0-0) opened the season with a win in their first conference outing for the eighth time in program history and are now 5-1-1 in their last seven conference openers. The Lady Toppers held the Red Wolves without a goal, the second straight opponent to be shutout by WKU and fourth this season.
Arkansas State (6-4-0, 0-1-0) took just one shot in the first half as the Lady Toppers controlled possession early.
WKU will look for its first opening weekend conference sweep since 2007 when the Lady Toppers return to the field on Sunday at 1:00pm to host Arkansas-Little Rock. Single game tickets are available through the WKU Ticket Office by calling 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.wkusports.com. In addition, a game ticket package with nine vouchers that can be used for any game during the 2012 season are available for just $25 through the ticket office.
For complete coverage of WKU Soccer, visit the official website of WKU Athletics at www.wkusports.com.
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