 |
|
Women's Soccer Plays to Hard-Fought Tie; Men
Lose 2-0 to Close Out Season |
|
Box Score (Women) With their respective seasons coming to a close, the Cougar soccer teams put forth good efforts at Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday. The women played another excellent game, earning a 1-1 tie with Pomona's tough squad; and while the men lost 2-0 to finish out their 2007 season, they went out with a spirited effort. For the Cougar women, the tie pushes the team’s unbeaten streak to five (2 wins, 3 ties), and their overall record to 6-6-4 with one game to play. Sunday’s result is particularly impressive, considering it came against one of the tougher teams on CSUSM’s schedule. Pomona is now 9-6-1 on the season, and a lock for the Region II playoffs. As for the Cougar women’s playoff chances, Coach Ron Pulvers is noncommittal, but optimistic. “I believe we’ve got a pretty good chance,” commented Pulvers. Sunday’s game was just another in a long line of very solid efforts by the women’s squad. Despite the stiff competition, CSUSM controlled the pace and consistently generated opportunities, holding an advantage in all major statistical categories. The Cougars earned more corner kicks, took more shots, and put more shots on goal than Pomona. Still, it was Pomona who would strike first. Late in the first half, Pomona’s Kylie Duszinski knocked a ball into the box, finding Mary Carroll, who hit a blind shot that somehow found the back of the net. It beat Cougar keeper Jane Drury, who made 7 saves in playing one of her best games of the season. CSUSM would strike back. In the 62nd minute, CSUSM forward Katelyn Krauss played a ball to Brittany Boyce. Boyce worked her way across the top of the box, finding some space and rocketing a perfect shot from 25 yards that the keeper had no chance to stop. “Brittany’s goal was just terrific,” noted Pulvers. The 1-1 score would persist through regulation, and neither team would be able to score in overtime. While the Cougars missed some chances, both early and late, to put the game away, the tie is a positive result. It was a good overall team effort, with forwards Krauss and Lucia Asbury, midfielder Taylor Ziencina, and Boyce playing a particularly strong contest. The Cougar women will look to continue their momentum next Sunday, when they’ll be back at home to take on La Sierra. On the men’s side, the 2-0 loss closes out the season at a disappointing 6-10; but the team went down fighting. In a year when consistent effort became an issue at various points, Coach Pulvers was pleased with the team’s spirited performance on Sunday. “We had a long talk yesterday at practice,” said Pulvers. “We played really hard today; it was good to see.” Indeed, the Cougar men carried the game, but failed to convert its numerous opportunities. Meanwhile, Pomona took advantage of its limited chances, scoring in the 58th and 72nd minutes to earn the win. Senior keeper Trent Painter, playing in his last game in Cougar blue, played outstanding; making 9 saves and keeping the team in the game late. As usual, he got quality play from defenders Greg Reese and Evan Cohorst, who have emerged as stalwarts on the team’s back line in the second half of the season. So while the 2007 season did not live up to the lofty standards set by the team in 2006, most of the young team will be back for ’08, and the Cougar men’s soccer program certainly has a bright future. A season review will be posted in the coming weeks.
|