(Box Score) Goshen, IN — With a pair of costly defensive lapses overshadowing a spirited come-from-behind effort, the Goshen College women’s soccer program dropped a bitter 2-1 decision to Davenport University Saturday afternoon at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.
Goshen (0-2, 0-0) allowed — arguably — two of the easiest goals in recent program memory to the visiting Panthers, the first coming in an open goal and the second a result of what Leafs’ head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj called “a careless effort” in the backfield.
In the end, it was simply too much for the hosts to overcome.
“It seemed we had taken a mental and physical vacation tonight,” said a disappointed Mounsithiraj. “We were very careless on the field, careless with our passes and unable to have any meaningful possession that could be considered a threat. We gave up a very easy goal in the first half. Their quick counter attack and our inability to organize ourselves defensively doomed us.”
Davenport’s first score — coming just six and a half minutes into the match — could not have been more inauspicious for the Leafs’ cause. After a cleared ball led to a breakaway, sophomore defender Allison Yoder gave hard pursuit. Going full speed in trying to track down the Panthers’ Ashley Phillips, Yoder apparently did not see classmate and goalkeeper Emmy Gibson coming out to challenge Phillips, as Yoder and Gibson collided violently. The end result was a dazed Gibson and Yoder lying on the turf and an open net for Phillips, who calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 Davenport lead.
Perhaps as embarrassed as demoralized by the Panthers’ first score, Goshen slowly began to work its way back into the mix. Slightly better ball control and an increasing effort in the possession game kept Davenport at bay for the remainder of the first half, keeping the score 1-0.
With a lineup change in tact during the second period, Goshen made its best run at the Panthers’ defensive third of the field. Even as Davenport would collect twice as many shots on goal for the contest — the Panthers had eight to the Leafs’ four — it was Goshen that notched the equalizer goal with just under seven minutes to play. After pressure up front resulted in Goshen’s fourth corner kick of the contest, sophomore Alli Gotwals sent a gorgeous cross into the Davenport six-yard box, where classmate Liz Nafziger was waiting. Amidst a crowd, Nafziger blasted the ball into the back of the net, tying the game and leading to a spirited jaunt back to midfield.
With the Goshen crowd in a fever pitch, the emotion lasted only 17 seconds.
Davenport took the ensuing kick off and easily got behind the Leafs’ defense, causing yet another one-on-one opportunity with Gibson. Sophomore Heather Zimmerman — the last line of defense — missed an open-field tackle, and Gibson guessed the wrong direction as Phillips notched her second goal of the match.
All just 20 seconds — officially — following Nafziger’s score.
“Davenport took full advantage of our lapse in defensive execution, twice,” Mounsithiraj said.
In the unlikely position of again needing a game-tying score, Goshen could not produce. With the clock dwindling rapidly, the Leafs could not muster a reasonable chance at a second equalizer, as a stunned crowd watched Davenport escape with the 2-1 decision.
Gibson finished with seven saves on the afternoon.
“We had a number of good looks at the goal but our poor finishing continues to keep us from being any real threat inside the 18 (yard box),” Mounsithiraj said. “I continue to be very hopeful that we can put our experience, new athleticism and skills to better use in the future, and in turn give us some better results.”
Goshen will again take to the field Tuesday, when the team hosts Calumet College. Game time is set for 7 p.m. |
Sophomore Liz Nafziger