» By ANTHONY SHINGLER – ashingler@my.apsu.edu
The Lady Govs soccer team did not open Ohio Valley Conference conference play this weekend the way they hoped. They lost two straight OVC games at home, first dropping the home opener against SEMO, 1-3, Friday, Sept. 23, and then losing against UT Martin, 0-2, Sunday, Sept. 25.
Statistically, the Lady Govs outplayed UT Martin. They made 12 shots with two on goal. Comparatively, UT Martin made only five shots, but four were on goal and two found the net.
“We had opportunities to finish and we didn’t,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “If you can’t score, you can’t win games. It’s disappointing. We have to take a serious look at what we’re doing inside the penalty area. We have to get back to the team we were during non-conference play.”
Sophomore forward Andy Quiceno led the Lady Govs with three shot attempts, one on goal. Sophomore forward Natalia Ariza added two shot attempts, one on goal.
The Lady Govs top scorer, sophomore forward Tatiana Ariza, was held scoreless for the third consecutive game.
UT Martin was just the second team to shutout the Lady Govs this season.
They jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. A Lady Govs’ foul set up the score. UT Martin’s Alyssa Curtis made the header off an assist by Amy Maksimowicz on the ensuing free kick.
They struck again early in the second period. Rosaelia Loza scored on a cross with an assist from Kendyl Wilson.
Both goals were against sophomore goalkeeper Haylee Shoaff. Shoaff had only one save in the game.
“I can’t take anything away from UT Martin,” Lady Govs’ head coach Kelley Guth said “We didn’t play our best game. I thought we played well enough to compete and be in it, but at the end of the day, we didn’t execute. [UT Martin] took advantage of their opportunities and that’s what you have to do to win.”
SEMO scored first in the 10th minute. However, sophomore forward Morgan Zigelsky put away a corner kick from Corey Osborn during the 36th minute of the game.
SEMO stormed back in the 50th minute to take a 2-1 lead, and added their third goal two minutes later.
“At the end of the first half, we had the run of play and then to give up two quick goals the way we did, it hurt us,” Guth said. “I thought we struggled defensively, tonight. We didn’t handle the pressure as well as we could have. We’re going to learn from this.”
Junior midfielder Jocelyn Murdoch led the Lady Govs with five shots, one on goal. Shoaff made four saves in the game.
The Lady Govs will have a week before they return to action on a three game road trip that starts Sunday, Oct. 2, at Murray State. They will not return to Morgan Brothers field until Friday, Oct. 21 when they play SIU Edwardsville. TAS
