Woman soccer begins undefeated

Jason O'Brien

The first tie of the season was recorded by the women?s soccer on Sunday as they failed to get the better of Wyoming in a back-and-forth match at Hornet Stadium, tying 2-2.

Following last Thursday?s win at San Jose State, the Hornets were 3-0 in their first three games but they twice had to come from behind against Wyoming to maintain their unbeaten record.

Wyoming settled quickly and Hornet goalkeeper Amy Seely was called into action on a number of occasions before being beaten after 27 minutes. Wyoming?s Anne Maddock seized on a poor clearance by the defense and she made no mistake from twenty yards.

However, this appeared to spur on the Hornets and they were rewarded with their first equalizer after 40 minutes. A scramble in the Wyoming box after good work by Desirae Feria, saw the ball drop to Krissy Collyer and she stroked home.

But just as it appeared to be heading for a tie at half-time, up popped Kelly McShane for Wyoming in the right side of the Hornet?s area and her cross-shot looped over the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the goal.

Once again the Hornet?s were stung and they started the second-half in determined fashion. After only two minutes, junior Brittany Hijlkema scored a deflected shot after being set up by Collyer. Hijlkema almost scored again minutes later but her long-range freekick drifted wide of the right-hand upright.

As the game went on, Wyoming appeared to get stronger and had a number of chances to win the match.

“We were probably a little tired after the game at San Jose State,” said Hornets head coach Sandra Asimos.

Two goals by Lisa Wrightsmanwere enough to win that game. Unfortunately Wrightsman had limited opportunities against a solid Wyoming defense. The Cowgirls? Renee Minero had the best chance with just minutes of regulation time remaining but she blazed over from six yards when unmarked.

Both sides had chances in overtime as fatigue began to take effect. When asked about the physical nature of the game, Hornets? captain Kiley Van Orman said that it was very aggressive and tiring despite the near perfect conditions in which it was played.

Wyoming had the ball in the net for what would have been the winning goal in the second period of overtime, but Kelly McShane?s header was ruled offside. The 2-2 final score means that the Hornets are 3-0-1 going into their first conference game at home against Eastern Washington today at 3pm at Hornet Field.

Coach Asimos wasn?t too disappointed with the result.

“It was scrappy and we weren?t able to play our usual possession game out there,” she said, “but hopefully we will have a better offensive surge for the first conference game.”