(Box Score) Adrian, MI — Facing a physical squad and a hostile environment at Adrian College Saturday afternoon, the Goshen College women’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to the host Bulldogs, the squad’s third defeat in its last four outings.
Goshen (1-3, 0-0) surrendered a counter-attack score just 13 minutes into the contest, and that goal proved to be enough: Adrian hung on to its 1-0 advantage until the game’s 77th minute, when the Bulldogs were able to score again off of its third — and final — corner kick of the game.
“Obviously, this was not the result we had hoped for this afternoon,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We again gave up a quick goal on a quick counter attack early in the first period, and that hurt. Prior to that goal, the match was played pretty evenly. We only had a few moments of quality possession in the first period, however. We continue to struggle in the midfield establishing any pattern of play.”
Mounsithiraj’s squad got caught in transition on Adrian’s first score, as the Bulldogs’ Sarah Evans was able to place a ball over the top of the Leafs’ defensive corps, resulting in a goal by Lindsay Chitwood at the period’s 13:37 mark.
The Leafs were out-shot by a 14 to five count on the afternoon, with senior Lucy Roth accounting for three attempts. Goshen’s best chance to tie the game came midway through the second period, when Roth fired a shot from 18 yards away, only to be denied by the Adrian keeper.
The Bulldogs’ Kelly Hutchins added Adrian’s second score at the 77:04 point, when a corner kick was headed toward the Leafs net and rejected. Hutchins was in the right spot at the right time, however, as she calmly blasted the rebound into the back of Goshen’s net to give her team a 2-0 advantage.
“Adrian is a physical team and they certainly know how to finish,” Mounsithiraj said. “We had difficulty winning 50-50 balls and maintaining any lengthy possession in the middle third of the pitch. This obviously put a tremendous amount of pressure on our three defenders and goalkeeper. We did have four good chances at their goal in the second half, but our poor quality in finishing gave them easy saves. This past two weeks certainly has shown us the strength of our young team, and areas that need work.”
Freshmen Kat Luginbuhl and Chelsea Graber provided Goshen with its only other shots on goal in addition to Roth’s three. The Leafs failed to attempt a corner kick on the afternoon. Junior Emmy Gibson finished with six saves in a full 90 minutes in goal.
“Lucy Roth worked extremely hard as a target player up front for us in opening up some space,” Mounsithiraj said. “(Junior) Amy Clem continues to play solidly on the outside defense for us with her marking and tacking ability. (Freshman) Liz Gunden did a nice job coming in at the sweeper position, and (freshman) Yani Hernandez was unrelenting today in pursuit of any ball upfront. (Sophomore) Liz Nafziger gave us quality minutes in the midfield. She was able to penetrate the defense and laid off a number of good passes. Unfortunately, injury continues to hinder her time on the pitch.”
Goshen will get a needed break after playing its first four contests in a nine-day stretch, remaining idle until Thursday when the team will host Urbana University. That match is part of a men’s-women’s double-header at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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Senior Lucy Roth