Union Lady Bulldogs Remain Unbeaten in a 1-1 Draw Against Top Team in the Gulf South Conference

Jackson, Tenn. – Union University’s women’s soccer team played Lee University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Junior exercise major forward and midfielder Paige Blackburn scored Union’s equalizing goal, her second of the season, securing the Lady Bulldog’s unbeaten record.

Union made 12 shots throughout the game, two of which were shots on goal.

Despite Lee taking 29 shots during the game, 10 of which were shots on goal, Union’s defensive play remained strong, ensuring they would not leave defeated.

Anita Lopez Rodriguez, senior computer science major and goalkeeper, played hard to this end. She set a new career high in saves, tending to nine of Lee’s shots throughout the game.

When Brooklyn Robbins, senior exercise science major and defender, was asked to describe her team’s mindset as they prepared to face the number one team in the Gulf South Conference, she said, “We went into it knowing we had to be really focused. Yes, we knew they were going to be a hard team to play, but every team is beatable.”

Robbins goes on to describe how several people on her team went through video clips of Lee’s past performance to identify Lee’s weaknesses and plan accordingly.

“We were playing a very specific press against their formation that required a lot of shifting and movement from the back line,” Robbins said. “That transition wouldn’t work if we didn’t communicate with each other and move as a unit. As the season has gone on, we’ve all gotten more comfortable playing with each other. It’s easier to read what my teammates are going to do because I know how they play.”

Diligent planning and strong communication served Union well, but Robbins also explained one other strategy for remaining undefeated.

“At the end of the day, ranking doesn’t really matter,” Robbins said. “You have to go into every game with the mindset that you can beat the other team.”

Though the Bulldogs ended the game with a tie, they still remain undefeated, maintaining an unbeaten 3-0-3 record in the Gulf South Conference with fifteen games left in the season before the postseason in November.

The Lady Bulldogs’ next game will be played at home against the Trevecca Trojans on Oct. 7 at 5 p.m..