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W. Soccer Drops Heartbreaker on Senior Day
On Friday, Oct. 28th the women's soccer team was looking to increase their win streak to four games as they faced off against familiar foe Florida College (10-5-0). The Falcons of Florida College defeated the Lady Wildcats (4-12-0, TSC 3-7-0) earlier this season 1-0 in Temple Terrace, Fla. The goal that beat the Lady Wildcats the first time around was scored by Falcons Freshman Midfielder Sara Webster less than one minute into the match. JWU fought but could not get the equalizer.
This time around it was important for the Lady Wildcats to get a better start. The motivation would be there as JWU was celebrating Senior Day. Before the match three players (Nicole Ewanouski, Elizabeth Haley and Cassandra Charles) were honored for their continued work on and off the field. With that added motivation the Lady Wildcats came out firing on all cylinders. Within the first five minutes JWU was awarded a corner kick that Freshman Forward Olivia Blake (Orlando, Fla./Freedom HS) would serve. The service was cleared by a Falcons defender, but not far enough, as it was served back into the penalty box and found the foot of JWU Junior Midfielder Tara Barrett (Orlando, Fla./Freedom HS). Barrett would make no mistake about the shot and found the back of the net for her third goal of the season.
Unfortunately the Lady Wildcats could not get out of the first half with a comfortable lead, as Falcons Midfield Sara Webster shocked the JWU backline once again. Webster was freed up after a tremendous effort by Falcons Left Midfielder Elizabeth Mosby, who found Webster open on the right side. The goal would tie the game up at one.
A few minutes later in the first half the Lady Wildcats had the answer when Freshman Forward Darcilyn Butala (Port St. Lucie, Fla./St. Lucie West Centennial HS) jumped on a rebound left by the Falcons Goalkeeper Jasmin Jacobs. Butala's goal would be her fifth of the season and would allow the Lady Wildcats to go into halftime with a 2-1 lead, a slim lead after controlling most of the first half.
The second half would begin just like the first half ended with JWU controlling the bulk of possession. JWU Sophomore Midfielder Suzy Duffy and Junior Tara Barrett did an outstanding job controlling the midfield and playing physical. But the 2-1 score line would not be enough for JWU to pull off their fourth win in a row. With less than fifteen minutes left in the match the Falcons turned up the pressure and forced JWU to make some costly mistakes.
The Florida College equalizer came after a number of JWU defenders could not get a hold of a ball served into the penalty box. The poor clearance attempts ended with the Falcons having a one on one with JWU Goalkeeper Elizabeth Haley (Winter Park, Fla./Lake Howell HS). Falcons Midfielder Elizabeth Mosby put the shot away and recorded her second point of the match, as she was responsible for the assist on the first Falcons goal. With the game all tied up JWU still had a number of chances to take the lead. But with five minutes left in the match the Falcons caused another poor clearance from the JWU backline which led to a Falcons corner kick. The mistake would prove costly when the service found FC Forward Lacey Millwee for a one time finish. As the last few minutes ticked away JWU created a number of other quality chances, they even found themselves with an open net but the shot sailed wide.
The game would finish in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat, and would end the Lady Wildcats season with a record of 4-12-0 and 3-7-0 in the Sun Conference. The team finished ranked 9th in the conference ahead of Ave Maria University and University of South Carolina-Beaufort. The Lady Wildcats will now look towards the Spring to improve and grow.
"It is disappointing to end the season with a loss, but we did a lot of great things this season," Head Coach Eric Dobrzanski remarked after the game. "We took the necessary steps to build a successful program. I just wish we could have won for the Seniors, they are such a great group and unfortunately they have never beaten Florida College. We will now turn our attention to the Spring and the games that we will play to get prepared for the Fall. Recruiting will also be front and center, as we look to take another big step next season."
The Lady Wildcat's 2012 Schedule will be released next week, but it has already been determined that they will open 2012 in St. Petersburg, Fla. as they will take on NCAA Division II opponent Eckerd College on Saturday Sept. 8th at 6pm. Sun Conference play will open on Friday Sept. 21st at home against Thomas University (Thomasville, Ga.) for a 4pm kickoff.