The women’s soccer team lost a tough game to Saint Francis on Sunday afternoon by the final score of 3-2, on the Great Lawn. It was a battle late in the season for first place in the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings. The Blue and White now post a record of 9-6-1 overall and a 6-2-1 record in conference action.
Despite starting off the game slowly, head coach Krissy Turner’s Hawks were up for the challenge against the unbeaten Red Flash. The Hawks gave up two early goals in the first half, but they would bounce back to tie it up before halftime. “We played pretty well in the first half, despite going down two to zero, we dug ourselves back into the game and I thought that we were passionate and that we played good soccer, and created some good chances,” stated Turner.
During this heated battle the Hawks would give up the first goal in the 13th minute. They began to play better and started to dominate possession. However, the Blue and White would give up another goal in the 20th minute. Staring at a 2-0 deficit the Hawks would scratch and claw their way back into the game.
In the 23rd minute the Hawks would answer with a goal which was scored by senior forward Claudia Vazquez. It was her first goal of the season. On the play, junior forward Dana Costello struck a beautiful corner kick from the right side of the goalie. As the ball was coming down onto the ground, Vazquez lined it up and delivered a gorgeous shot into the back of the net. That play trimmed the Hawks deficit by 2-1.
“Me and my teammates battled it up the field and we got a corner, Dana crossed the ball into the box and it found me and I hit it right in.” said Vazquez.
The Blue and White were not done there, they continued to play hard and battle against the unbeaten Red Flash. In the 34th minute, sophomore defender Kim Clemmer displayed brilliant footwork and determination during her beautiful individual play and she was able to draw a penalty in the box, to give the Hawks a penalty kick. Sophomore defender Alexa Freguletti showed poise and concentration when she converted the penalty kick to tie the game up at two apiece.
MU played well, especially in the first half, as they came out a little sluggish in the second half to give up the lead. The match remained tied well into the second half until the Hawks gave up a goal in the 65th minute. “In the second half once they scored we just kind of shut down a little bit and you can’t do that when you play against a team as good as them,” said Turner.
The Hawks had some bad luck at the end of this exciting game when junior forward Monique Plescia nearly tied it up with five seconds remaining off of a nice strike that hit the crossbar. “We were a little unlucky at the end you know, with five seconds to go we hit the crossbar,” said Turner.
Even though the Hawks outshot Saint Francis 16-13 they would fall just short of the victory. If MU wants to bounce back next week in their final game, they need to have a better all-around performance. “Defending, you’ve got to defend we’ve got to shut them down, you can’t give up three goals and win a championship,” Turner said.
MU will return to action on Sunday, October 28, at noon, when they visit Mount St. Mary’s for the final game of the regular season.
