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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
It didn't take long for the No. 1-
ranked women's soccer team to experience
their first loss of the season,
and it came to an unranked opponent
Winona State who defeated the Roadrunners
1-0 on a penalty kick Sept. 1
at Auraria Field.
The loss to the Warriors was a
shocker for the team, who had previously
lost only one home game since
2002.
The shot that did it was on a penalty
kick in the 41st minute after a
foul was called in front of the 'Runner's
net. Winona State midfielder
Heidi Woerle took the shot for the
Warriors, slipping it passed the outstretched
hands of goalkeeper Rachel
Zollner.
It was a game of frustration as
Metro's defense played well, allowing
only two shots on goal the entire
game. The 'Runners provided more
chances to score, amassing nine shots
in the game.
"We need to finish those," Metro
forward Becca Mays said on making
it a focus to capitalize on the chances
that are created.
In one sequence Mays received a
well-passed ball in front of the goal
but her header sailed wide, drawing a
sigh from the fans.
"It's unlucky," Mays said, "but
luck only counts for so long, we
should have scored."
The women started the game
with good passing as Metro defender
Jenna Oney launched crosses right in
front of Winona's net but they were
missed or hit wide by the offense.
Only 20 minutes, in Winona was already
substituting players courtesy
of the mile-high altitude. Still, a shot
went high, another wide and Metro
was tied in a game it was controlling.
Then came the penalty kick late in
the first half, and now the home team
had to play from behind, which is one
thing Metro is not used to doing.
They started playing more aggressive
in the second half, leaving
space for another Winona State shot,
which Zollner ran up and caught at
close range.
"Things got spread out and we
made it harder on ourselves," Zollner
said of the close call.
As time slipped away, Metro kept
pressing on Winona's defense. Midfielder
Justine Montoya had a chance
in front of the Warriors' goal and
shot it just high as it hit the crossbar
and bounced out.
"The longer you go without
scoring, the harder it is to stay composed,"
said Metro head coach Danny
Sanchez.
By the end, the shots came from
farther out in desperate attempts to
tie the score or create more chances,
but when the whistle blew, the women
had lost 1-0. The No.1-ranked
division two Women's soccer team
had just lost their first game of the
season.
"We didn't play well enough to
win," Sanchez said.
On the following Monday, the
Roadrunners didn't get to enjoy the
time off from Labor Day and looked
to rebound against Minnesota State
Mankato. The Mavericks came to
Auraria Field having defeated the
Colorado School of Mines 3-1 two
days prior.
The Roadrunners responded to
their upset loss in great form by shutting
out the Mavericks 4-0. Mays
provided two assists and a goal while
back defender Oney opened the scoring
just 50 seconds into the game.
She didn't let up, scoring another one
in the second half.
The win improved Metro's record
to 3-1 and now they will be playing
conference opponent Fort Lewis at
home Sept. 7.
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