Women’s soccer team wins third consecutive game
By Dan Friend
Three consecutive wins for the University of Indianapolis women’s soccer team (7-7, 5-4 GLVC) have improved the team’s conference standing.
On Friday the ‘Hounds defeated no. 24 ranked Nothern Kentucky University 5-1. The loss to the ‘Hounds was NKU’s third consecutive loss. Freshman Caryn Nieman kicked two goals in the contest.
The ‘Hounds returned from a road trip with a 5-4 overtime win against Lewis University on Sept. 30 and a 0-2 loss to University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Sept. 28.
In the Lewis game, the ‘Hounds found themselves down 1-4 in the second half, but they battled back to force the game into an overtime period. Sophomore forward Jamie Huebner kicked the first three goals for the team, and sophomore forward Ashley Seehase added the final two.
Junior forward Monique Gamble said that after the loss to Parkside, head coach Geoff VanDeusen told team members they needed to play at a higher level.
“We are at the halfway point in our season, and we can’t lose again,” Gamble said. “He told us to go out there and play to win. And that’s what we did.”
The team responded much differently against Parkside, Gamble said. The Rangers scored two goals within the first half of play, and the ‘Hounds never replied.
VanDeusen said that one issue for the ‘Hounds this year has been sticking to their game plan when they get behind early in a match. In his first year as head coach, VanDeusen has changed the style of play from that of last year’s team, but the players have a tendency to revert to old habits when opponents get the lead, he said.
“We’re trying to find ourselves. We’re trying to finish games,” VanDeusen said. “But we need to develop that killer instinct.”
Swihart has protected the goal in junior Abby Tracy’s absence. Tracy is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. In nine starts, Swihart has allowed fourteen goals against thirty-five saves. Improving team communication is key to stopping scores by opponents, she said.
“Against Parkside, we struggled with communication and lost track of people,” Swihart said “The effort was there, but working to communicate with my teammates will keep the goal out of the back of the net.”
Results from the ‘Hounds’ match against Bellarmine were not available as of The Reflector press time.
The women’s soccer team will play at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
