The Loyola women’s soccer team returned from their trip to our nation’s capital with more than just a win and a loss.
They came back with more team unity and a tour of historical museums, monuments and memorials.
After arriving at their hotel at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the team got lost on the way to the soccer field and then could not find parking. Add that to an abbreviated warm-up and the fact that the team had not played or practiced much in the last three weeks due to Isidore and Lili, and it’s obvious why the team did not play very well.
The ‘Pack did manage to score in the 10th minute after political science freshman Marina Meza quickly passed a free kick to co-captain and biology junior Clare Springer, who placed the ball on the ground right underneath the keepers’ arms to give Loyola a 1-0 lead. But a lack of rhythm ultimately cost Loyola (5-6-1) as they fell to Gallaudet, 5-1.
“We had more shots but they put the balls in the net. We didn’t have any rhythm as a team. We made crucial mistakes with bad passes in the back that got stolen,” Head Coach Emmy Therrell said.
The lack of rhythm as a team was most evident when the ‘Pack tried to employ an offsides trap but the entire defense did not move up the field, leaving an easy breakaway for Gallaudet.
Beyond the match itself was the interesting fact that Gallaudet is a school for the deaf. Since most of the other team was unable to communicate with one another, the game was pretty silent.
“There were squeaks of communication. There were noises. It has to be mostly visual for them. Some of them were able to talk but their uniform language was sign,” Therrell said.
The ‘Pack salvaged the long road trip with a 6-2 victory over Colombia Union College on Monday night.
Springer led the ‘Pack with a hat trick, including two goals in the final four minutes of the match. In the ninth minute, Springer gave Loyola a 1-0 lead with a powerful shot past the keeper.
With the team leading 4-1, Springer put her second goal in the net with a well-placed ball underneath the outstretched arms of the keeper.
She completed the hat trick two minutes later on a rebound after Anna Weldon, education senior, banged a free kick off the crossbar. Therrell said that she does not recall the last time a Loyola player scored a hat trick in a game.
“I wasn’t thinking about [a hat trick] during the game. I was pretty excited because this was the first time I have ever scored more than one goal [in a game],” Springer said. “I didn’t think I had a chance for a third but then I got the chance and I scored.”
After losing her season to a knee injury last year, Lissa Lyncker, biology junior, scored her first two goals of the season. Her second goal gave the ‘Pack a commanding 4-1 lead and came just four minutes after a Meza goal.
“I was really excited because it (scoring two goals) proved that I was back to where I was before my injury,” Lyncker said. “It was hard to come back and I could not have done it without the support of my team and coach.”
According to Therrell, the ‘Pack’s depth played a role in the win.
“They only had 11 players and couldn’t last the whole game with us. We didn’t have our rhythm completely back,” Therrell said. “It wasn’t our best game, but the energy level, intensity, and positive determination made the difference [in the match].”
The ‘Pack will continue the season with an away match at Spring Hill in Mobile, Ala. at 6 p.m. today.
Meza Named GCAC Soccer Player of the Week
After having to come out early in Loyola’s game against Louisiana College on Oct. 1 due to her asthma, political science freshman Marina Meza told herself to ignore the asthma and concentrate on helping her team win the match.
The asthma had no effect. Five minutes after reentering the game, Meza scored the first goal of the match on a header. But she didn’t stop there.Mere minutes after giving Loyola the lead, Meza padded it with her second goal off a cross from Gigi Alford, communications sophomore.
She also added an assist to Lisa Handschumacher, biology junior, in the second half.
“I tried to stay focused on the game, and when I went back in the score was still 0-0 so I was determined to put some goals in,” she said.
Due to her outstanding performance in Loyola’s 5-0 victory against Louisiana College, Meza was named the GCAC Soccer Player of the Week.
“It was pretty cool since I am a freshman. I didn’t really expect it (player of the week) this soon. They were my first two goals of the season and to have them come back-to-back felt really good. I am definitely honored,” she said.
She followed that performance with a goal and an assist during a two-game road trip to Washington, D.C. Therrell could not be more ecstatic with the recent play of her freshman forward.
“She deserved to win [player of the week] because she had such an impact in the Louisiana College game,” she said. “We had possession but could not score. She did that for us when she went back in the game. She has made a major impact every time she steps on the field in the last several games.”
