NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Newberry women’s soccer team kept up their winning ways Wednesday afternoon at the Newberry Soccer Complex, shutting out in-state rival USC Aiken 3-0.  The Lady Indians improve to 12-4 on the season, while the Lady Pacers drop to 1-10-2.

“Our defensive effort the whole game was excellent once again, and I am very pleased with that,” commented head coach Juan Pablo Favero.  “We will need that and more in the upcoming games leading to the South Atlantic Conference tournament.”

Defense was more than key this particular afternoon, as the Lady Indian defenders snuffed out every possible look at the goal, creating a very easy outing for keeper Danielle Beckerle (St. Louis, Mo.). 

The spirit of the Lady Pacers was broken early in the game, when in the second minute forward Brooke Tumblin (Florence, S.C.) sent a very smart pass to Adriana Farfan (West Palm Beach, Fla.) on the right wing, setting her up for a goal.  It was the eighth goal of the season for Farfan, including her second game-winner.

“Our first goal was first class,” explained Favero.  “But because it came so early, I think it actually took our energy out a little bit, and we struggled putting together a good performance in the first half.”

That certainly could be the case, but give credit to USC Aiken who showed tremendous effort for most of the game.  Although at times the Pacers were outmatched speed-wise, they never gave up their hustle and played very physical throughout the entire game. 

The match remained knotted with Newberry up 1-0, until a free kick after a foul committed by USC Aiken in the 71st minute lead to the back-breaker.  Jackie Oertli (St. Louis, Mo.) lined up to take the restart, and sent a towering shot to the far post.  Pacer keeper Shannon Hobbs (Rancho Cucamonga, Cali.) did her best to corral the ball, but in the end it was sent in with too much force, bouncing off her hands and on the foot of Indian leading goal scorer Tumblin.  Tumblin sent the ball past Hobbs with ease, giving Newberry the 2-0 lead.

Then Genene Bowers (Chapin, S.C.), who has come so close to finding the net so many different times this season, finally knocked one home in the 88th minute after a fantastic pass from Kristin Parker (LaPorte, Tex.).  The goal by Bowers marked the last of the scoring, as the match ended 3-0 in Newberry’s favor.

The Lady Indians are back in action next Wednesday for their final home match of the year, hosting Anderson College at 4 p.m.