The women’s soccer team tied UC Irvine 1-1 Sept. 10 and defeated Dartmouth 2-1 on Sept. 12 bringing their season record to 4-2-1.
Junior forward Laura Cole was the only player to score in both matches netting a surprisingly powerful free kick against UCI and a second-half penalty kick against Dartmouth. Cole now ties junior forward Anisa Guajardo with 10 points.
Waves head coach Tim Ward used the last couple games to dig into the team’s depth. Freshman defender Michelle Pao played a key role as the Waves tried out a couple different formations freeing junior defender/forward Myriah Stockman to play a more offensive role. Ward “felt [Pao] was ready for the challenge.”
In their game against UCI the Waves were inconsistent and ended up disappointed with a tie against what Ward commented was “the best team we’ve played all year.”
After the double-overtime tie Stockman felt the team “need[ed] to be able to lock it down which is similar to Ward’s comments various times in previous weeks. Guajardo, however, wasn’t worried. We usually have a good response after games that don’t go the way we want Guajardo said.
And the Waves did just that. Amping up the energy against the visiting Ivy League, Stockman scored in under a minute and put them on their toes from the start Guajardo said.
Ward was proud of the girls and felt they were managing the game…[with] a more professional performance against the Big Green.
Under the leadership of the more experienced players, Iceland native Gunny Jonsdottir, a freshman midfielder, and sophomore midfielder Ana Pontes had moments of brilliance in last week’s games as they started finding connections with forwards Cole, Guajardo and junior Michelle Spacciapolli. One of those connections to Spacciapolli resulted in Cole’s penalty kick.
After Sunday’s game against Dartmouth, Ward said the team needs to continue working on connecting with each other.
Sometimes I think they take their relationships for granted Ward said.
Earlier in the season, Ward and Stockman both boasted of the team’s unity. Ward hoped it would be a factor to pull the team through in tougher games. Stockman felt it gave their defense and attack more cohesion.
The Waves travel this weekend to Hawaii to take part in the Hawaii Outrigger Hotels Soccer Classic in Honolulu. Sept. 18 they face off against Washington State and meet Hawaii the following day.
Hawaii’s traditionally been a tough team Ward said. We just need to show up and do the business.”