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Four Second-Half Goals Bury Trappers In Season Opener
A 2-0 halftime deficit isn’t ideal, but, at times, is acceptable.
Refusing to bring the will to fight back in the second half, is not.
The Northwest College women’s soccer team was shut out 6-0 by Utah State University- Eastern on Saturday in Powell.
The late-game mental letdown — not the team’s array of injuries or inability to generate offense — was on the forefront of head coach Rob Hill’s mind.
“It’s always been a drop off in the second half,” Hill said of the Trapper women. “It doesn’t take a lot of rocket science to figure out why. We conceded four goals, and we conceded two goals in the last two minutes.”
The Golden Eagles built on their two-goal lead with tallies in the 55th, 70th, 87th and 89th minutes.
USU’s Jacquelyn Tagg scored both first-half goals — at 19:40 and 29:50 — but four new scorers got on the board for the Eagles in the second half.
“It can’t be the excuse of the season,” Hill said. “We’ve got to play better and we’ve got to train harder. And I’ve got to do a better job to get them ready and get them better prepared.”
The Trappers managed a respectable 10 shots on goal, but Hill said most of those were from long distance and didn’t pose a real threat to the USU goalkeeper.
“In terms of creating real chances, I don’t feel we really threatened them,” Hill said.
When Northwest’s best efforts proved futile, and USU found the back of the net, the team’s attitude began to sour, which compounded the team’s problems.
“That first goal and you can see the body language changes,” Hill said. “I could see the heads drop and we’ve got to learn to be strong in those times.”
Freshman Sami Heimer led the Trappers with three shots on goal, while sophomore Caddie Boline and freshman Rachel Orchard each had two.
Sophomore Ellen Hunsaker, freshman Lindsay Irwin and freshman Taylor Gregory each had one shot on goal a piece.
Freshman keeper Raven Johnson got Northwest’s first start in goal, but is believed to have suffered a concussion in the loss, as did Heimer. Both are “unlikely” to play again this week.
Freshman Alex Gonzales will get her first start in goal if Johnson is unable.
“She’ll be ready to go,” Hill said of Gonzales.
Though six goals were scored on Johnson’s watch, Hill said it would be unfair to fault only the Cody High School graduate.
“I don’t think we can blame Raven, really,” Hill said.
Johnson made nine saves and was put into poor positions by some defensive miscues that led to excellent opportunities for USU. Though whatever, or whoever, is to fault for the half-dozen goals, one thing is for certain.
“We shouldn’t have conceded that many goals,” Hill said. “At times it was really soft mistakes. It’s ones we need to correct and we need to improve from.”
The non-conference loss may be the rude awakening the Trappers need. Or at least that’s what Hill hopes.
With two Region IX games this week — Sheridan College on Wednesday (after press time), and Western Wyoming on Friday — the Trappers can’t afford to get stuck in the past.
“There’s not any reason to panic, but I hope the girls got the jolt that they needed to wake up a little bit and see who they want to be as people and as a team,” he said.
Hill was optimistic about the growth the Trappers will make this season.
“We’ll improve. We’ve got the players to do it. We’ve just got to make a few changes and higher our expectations in practice and raise the standard,” Hill said. “I feel like we’re going to get better, we’re going to grow from it and I’m very confident the girls have the talent to play much better.”
Northwest hosts Western Wyoming at 2 p.m. on Friday. The men’s teams will follow.