Since the Louisiana State University game Wednesday night, the Loyola women’s soccer team has been playing through the most difficult part of its schedule.

The team has put in some lackluster performances, with the exception of the LSU game, which have resulted in a three-game losing streak.

“I don’t mind the score against LSU because we played very well as a team, but last weekend our play was sloppy,” Head Coach Emmy Therrell said.

On Friday night, the Wolfpack fell to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent Spring Hill by a score of 4-0.

After an own goal, the Badgers’ Rocio Aleman scored her first of two goals by racing past two defenders and sliding the ball past keeper Leila Manouchehri, sociology junior.

Five minutes later, forward Erica Strachan extended the lead to 3-0. Aleman capped off the scoring with her second goal in the 65th minute. Therrell is the first to admit that the team’s lack of organization enabled Spring Hill to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.

“We weren’t as organized as we have been in previous games. Spring Hill made us pay for our poor defensive tactics,” Therrell said.

“We had individual efforts that were strong but as a team we didn’t come together. That’s how we lost the game. They took advantage of our lack of an organized attack and defense.”

The ‘Pack will face Spring Hill again Oct. 18 in Mobile, Ala.

Therrell believes that the way the team played at the end of the game coupled with having already played Spring Hill will put Loyola in a better position to win.

“In the last ten minutes, we settled down, connected on passes and dominated,” Therrell said.

“The expectations of our true capabilities came true at the end. I think we will be better prepared to deal with their speedy forwards next time. We should be able to play much better.”

Ouachita Baptist handed the ‘Pack (2-4-1) its third straight loss on Sunday afternoon, 6-2. The scoring started in the 15th minute when an unlucky bounce resulted in an easy break away for a Ouachita forward. She knocked the ball to the upper corner of the near post, giving Manouchehri no chance to stop it.

In the 27th minute, the ball skidded across the 18-yard box where Ouachita’s left halfback was waiting patiently. She placed the ball perfectly into the far post to put Loyola in a 2-0 hole.

In the second half, Ouachita went up, 6-0, on four consecutive goals, mainly the result of missed marks by the defense.

On a positive note, the team did not give up. The Wolfpack responded with two straight goals from free kicks. Co-captain Anna Weldon, education senior, converted a free kick for the third time this season. This time she was set up on the left side around the 18-yard box and struck the ball over the keeper into the upper right corner.

Shortly after that, co-captain Lisa Lester, communications senior, set up to take a free kick from fifty yards out and, frustrated by the five-goal deficit, decided to shoot. Lester’s shot caught the Ouachita goalie head off-guard. The ball dropped over her head and into the goal.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Lester said. “When it was in the air, I thought it would go over the goal but it fell in a perfect spot where the keeper couldn’t get it,” Lester said.

Now, the ‘Pack hopes to snap the losing streak when they face GCAC opponent Mobile on the road Wednesday night. Lester has a simple remedy.

“We must play together as a team and get focused,” she said. “We are a second-half team and we must take advantage of that. If we play like we did at the beginning of the season, then we can win.”

The ‘Pack traveled to the Mobile and turned in one of its better performances, but Mobile still won, 2-0.

Mobile’s Shannah Stamm scored the games’ two goals coming in the 39th and 65th minutes.

Mobile out-shot Loyola putting 17 shots on goal compared to only six for the Wolfpack.

The loss moves the ‘Pack’s record to 2-5-1 for the season. The win was the first of the season for Mobile.

According to Lester, the team performed very well.

“It was the best game that we have played since the second game of the season,” she said.

“We just couldn’t generate enough shots on goal. Our teamwork was awesome.”

The ‘Pack is scheduled to play Marian on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the ‘Fly.