2008 Woodie Awards
SIUE soccer teams open seasons with mixed results
Women's team falls to 0-2 after overtime loss
Levi Kirby
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Sports
A rough overtime loss closed out this weekend for the SIUE women's soccer team.
The first of two games in Ohio resulted in a 2-0 loss to Akron.
SIUE women's soccer Head Coach Derek Burton said it was not their best performance but the effort was there. Kaci Backs, senior goalkeeper, had six saves on the game, but Akron kept pounding the net out-shooting the Cougars 18-4.
In the second game, the Cougars fell by a score of 2-1 in overtime to the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Senior Jenny Kates said there were multiple mistakes made in different areas, resulting in the Cougars second loss of the season.
"It was the little things," Kates said.
"Closing down, going quick to the ball."
Caitlin Hester of Kent State had threatened the Cougars all day offensively. SIUE was able to hold her to only one goal, the tying goal, until she used her dangerous sideline throw in overtime to win the game.
Kates said most of the team is growing accustomed to how physical and intense it is at the Division I level, and now they have to consistently play at that level.
"We don't know what to expect," Kates said. "It is definitely more physical, but it is not more than we can handle."
Freshman goalkeeper Claire Lovercheck made her first regular season appearance in the overtime loss. "I was pretty nervous … it is a lot of pressure," Lovercheck said. "It was fun though."
Even with the two rough losses, Burton is pleased with the effort of his players.
"The effort is there," Burton said. "It is just the realization of how focused and intense we need to be every time to match a D-I team."
Burton said issues the team worked on over the weekend in between games were visible on Sunday and definite improvements were made. Burton said he knows his team will bounce back strong for two more games this weekend.
"I have confidence in our team as soccer players," Burton said. " We will be ready for next weekend."
The first of two games in Ohio resulted in a 2-0 loss to Akron.
SIUE women's soccer Head Coach Derek Burton said it was not their best performance but the effort was there. Kaci Backs, senior goalkeeper, had six saves on the game, but Akron kept pounding the net out-shooting the Cougars 18-4.
In the second game, the Cougars fell by a score of 2-1 in overtime to the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Senior Jenny Kates said there were multiple mistakes made in different areas, resulting in the Cougars second loss of the season.
"It was the little things," Kates said.
"Closing down, going quick to the ball."
Caitlin Hester of Kent State had threatened the Cougars all day offensively. SIUE was able to hold her to only one goal, the tying goal, until she used her dangerous sideline throw in overtime to win the game.
Kates said most of the team is growing accustomed to how physical and intense it is at the Division I level, and now they have to consistently play at that level.
"We don't know what to expect," Kates said. "It is definitely more physical, but it is not more than we can handle."
Freshman goalkeeper Claire Lovercheck made her first regular season appearance in the overtime loss. "I was pretty nervous … it is a lot of pressure," Lovercheck said. "It was fun though."
Even with the two rough losses, Burton is pleased with the effort of his players.
"The effort is there," Burton said. "It is just the realization of how focused and intense we need to be every time to match a D-I team."
Burton said issues the team worked on over the weekend in between games were visible on Sunday and definite improvements were made. Burton said he knows his team will bounce back strong for two more games this weekend.
"I have confidence in our team as soccer players," Burton said. " We will be ready for next weekend."
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