'Jacks pitch 3-0 defeat to Wolves
Amanda Miles
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The Western soccer team lost 3-0 at home to Humboldt State University on Monday, Oct. 10, to kick off Homecoming Week. The Wolves, coming off an inspirational 2-0 road win against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Oct. 6, let in all three goals in the second half in the defeat.
In the Northwest Nazarene game, the Wolves were shorthanded due to injuries and played with just two substitutes, but competed with passion and determination.
"On the road, we played such a great game," ninth-year Head Coach Rod Fretz explained. "We played with so much energy and that was the difference in a close game."
Coach Fretz was frustrated at his team's abrupt turnaround in effort against Humboldt State.
"Mentally, we were not into the game [today]," Coach Fretz said. "It was a winnable game, but we weren't ready to play and didn't play with any heart. If you're going to compete at this level, you have to come ready to play every day."
Although the Lumberjacks outshot Western 22-12 and possessed the ball more, the Wolves had their chances, but couldn't put the ball into the net. Humboldt State freshman goalkeeper Staci Self thwarted a prime opportunity when she blocked junior forward Amy Weberg's shot in a one-on-one situation just six minutes into the contest, and Western couldn't capitalize on two first-half corner kicks.
The Lumberjacks' first goal came less than five minutes into the second half when freshman forward Alissa McChesney chipped the ball over sophomore keeper Ally Meyer's head. The ball hit the bottom of the cross bar and bounced into the goal. At the 60:12 mark, freshman forward Karen Camilli fed sophomore defender Erica Laugalis the ball from deep on the right side, and Laugalis nailed the shot from the middle of the penalty box. Junior forward and captain Katie Coppoletta capped the Lumberjack scoring at 73:01 with a long crossing shot from the right side.
The Wolves also had excellent scoring opportunities in the second half, but couldn't capitalize like the Lumberjacks. Sophomore defender Becky Myrold's dangerous free kick was tipped out of bounds by Self in the 74th minute. Sophomore defender Erica Hibbard and Weberg had headers hit off the crossbar and sail just high, respectively. Self also turned away shots by freshman forward Aly Reamer with nine minutes and 3:45 remaining.
Despite the three allowed goals, Hibbard-who was named GNAC Player-of-the-Week for Oct. 3-9 and freshman defender Mallory Graves "played like they wanted to win," according to Fretz, who also complimented Meyer for her efforts in goal.
The Wolves have two more home games on tap. On Saturday, Oct. 15, they face Western Washington at 1 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 17, Western takes on Corban in a non-conference match at 3 p.m.
The Wolves have specific goals for these upcoming games.
"We need to improve team energy and communication," said coach Fretz. "[We need to work on] playing harder, possessing the ball and working on the things we practice."
Western also hopes to be bolstered by the return of a couple more players from injury, who could be ready by Saturday, according to coach Fretz.