Women's soccer program's growing pains exposed during road stretch

October 15, 2008
By Robert Jackson
Sports Editor

After registering the first win in the program’s history, the women’s soccer team returns home this Saturday a month after their first win, which was also their last home game.

The team managed one win against Blackburn College at press time in the team’s five game road stretch, which was tied for third as the longest road trip by any Prairie Star team this year.

“Every game is a new experience for us,” Head Coach Pete Kowall said. “We just have some new players and each time out is something new for them.”

Beginning the road trip with a 4-0 loss against No. 20 McKendree, the team rebounded four days later to defeat Blackburn College 2-0. The Prairie Stars were out-shot 48-24 in those two games.

“When teams move the ball so quickly they can get us out of shape very quickly,” Kowall said. “And that just creates shot-after-shot.”

Sandwiched in the middle of the team’s road stretch was the Hannibal-LaGrange Spartans, a team they defeated for their first win ever as a program.

The Oct. 8 date, however, proved to be revenge for Hannibal-LaGrange, routing the Prairie Stars 5-0. The Spartans struck first within the first five minutes of the game on a goal by Marsha Summers. The goal was the fastest goal the Prairie Stars ever allowed.

“If (Hannibal-LaGrange) hadn’t scored the first early goal things probably would’ve turned out better,” Kowall said.

The Spartans surprised the Prairie Stars with a new formation, one they did not prepare for. Kowall recalled having to diagram on a piece of paper different players’ responsibilities on defense to adjust to the Spartans new formation that brought more players into the Prairie Stars half of the field to attack.

Offensively, the Prairie Stars sputtered, frequently turning the ball over after one or two passes, which lead to the Prairie Stars playing defense for most of the game. Kowall pointed out amidst the poor play that “there’s a teachable moment there we have to get across to the players.” For Kowall, that means moving together as a team during the attack, not depositing the ball to one player and hoping she can dribble through the rest of the team.

The team has been limited in practicing tactics during training sessions this year due to a lack of players.

Kowall admitted that he should have found a better time for his entire team to practice rather than early morning, but some of the problem also lies in a lack of players. Adding to his current roster with a full year of recruiting has the coach excited, yet he also remains checked in his optimism.

“You can never get too far ahead of yourself,” he said. “Just because you’ve identified players and contacted them doesn’t mean they are going to come to your school.” Kowall points to the success of the men’s team as having a positive effect on building the women’s program.

“Kids that like soccer like to watch good soccer," he said.

The team returns home this Saturday to face Missouri Baptist University with kickoff scheduled at 5:00 p.m.