Women’s Soccer Drops First Two Matches With 2-1 Scores
The Waynesburg University women’s soccer team went on the road for the first time this season, facing La Roche College Friday, Sept. 1.
With similar results to the home opener on Thursday against Juniata College, the Yellow Jackets would give up two goals before putting one in themselves to make the final score a 2-1 defeat in the nonconference matchup.
Giving the Redhawks a 2-0 advantage going into the half with goals from freshmen Amanda Ceravolo and Allesandra Perri, the team, assistant coach Brad Heethuis said, looked sluggish at the beginning of the game.
“[The defeat was a] combination of heat and playing the night before against Juniata,” said Heethuis. “We came out of the gate pretty lethargic.”
Waynesburg would find a way to tighten the score in the second half of the game when junior forward Nikki Davis, who scored the lone goal in each of the first two games of the season, put in a goal at the 49-minute mark. Heethuis said the goal came off a play consisting of good passing and speed.
“[Nikki’s goal] was just a nice 3-4 person pass combination up the field,” said Heethuis. “She used her speed and then finished well dribbling the keeper.”
In addition to being outscored in the matchup, the Jackets were outshot by a 13-3 margin. Besides Davis, freshman midfielder Emma Gozzard and senior defenseman Melanie Burchfield recorded the two other shots for the Yellow Jackets in the afternoon matchup. Junior goalkeeper Heather Fraser played the full game for Waynesburg and managed five saves.
With inconsistent play in the first half of the game, Heethuis said the Jackets have struggled with getting down early in the first two games of the season.
“I think we have to play all 90 minutes, and if you look at both of our games, we actually have gone down 2-0 in both of them,” said Heethuis. “We have to come out hungry to go from the opening whistle.”
Sophomore midfielder Natalie Fortna, who had an impressive freshman season with the Jackets last year, was unable to make the game, which, according to Heethuis, was difficult for the Jackets, as they lost some of their depth.
Aside from their Wednesday matchup against Muskingum University, which is past this publication, the Yellow Jackets will finish out their week at home against Oberlin College Friday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
For a recap of the game against Muskingum, visit theyellowjacket.org.