By Ian Round
According to Assistant Coach Kaitlyn Mallernee, the women’s soccer team has been, well, unlucky.
“Soccer is one of those games where the best team doesn’t always win,” Mallernee said.
The Ladies (2-6-1) lost to Capital University 0-3 Wednesday night. Over the weekend, they lost in double overtime 2-1 to DePauw University at home Sept. 28 and tied Otterbein University 1-1 at home Sept. 25, again in double overtime.
Kenyon had 13 shots on goal against DePauw (6-4-0).
“The score should have been five-zero,” Mallernee said of the loss. “We had some brilliant shots.”
For instance, Co-Captain Becca Romaine ’15 hit the post and the crossbar. Forward Maggie Smith ’17 scored in the 68th minute on assists by forward Taylor Jamil ’17 and midfielder Madi Kim ’14.
“Our DePauw loss was heartbreaking,” Romaine wrote in an email. “I would say that we were the better team but the scoreboard didn’t reflect that.”
“They’re doing everything we’ve asked them to do,” Head Coach Kelly Bryan said. “[DePauw’s] goalie had an outstanding game,” she added.
In the game against Otterbein, Smith tied the score in the 67th minute on an assist by Romaine. Bryan called Smith’s shot a “lightning bolt.”
Goalkeeper Alissa Poolpol ’16 replaced Lauren Wolfe ’14 at halftime and saved three shots in her season debut, including one with 5 seconds left.
“A tie is always a little weird especially after going into OT,” Romaine wrote. “It’s exhausting and you wish there was a clear result.”
“We were okay with [the tie],” Mallernee said.
Bryan agreed. “That’s what we felt we were going to get,” she said.
Bryan noted that Smith, who now has three goals for the season, has had “perfect timing finding her stride.”
Though five players have been sidelined due to injury, the team remains a fierce competitor. Except for the tie, every game this season has been decided by one goal, and while the Ladies have not allowed more than two goals in any game, they also have not scored more than two in any game.
A variety of injuries also play a role in the team the Ladies field day-in and day-out: Mallernee said four players are out for the season, three of which are due to knee injuries. But she said another player might return within a week.
Romaine, who scored more than half of the Ladies’ goals in 2012, said the help on offense is welcome. “I don’t feel as much pressure as I used to,” she wrote.
Bryan said Wolfe and Romaine, as the primary goalkeeper and goalscorer, feel the most pressure. If they don’t save shots or score, she said, “They feel like they haven’t done their job.”
She added, “Others need to take [shots] when they’re available as well.”
The Ladies play away at Allegheny College this Saturday, Oct. 5.
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