It was a weekend of tricks and treats for the Dixie State University women’s soccer team as it lost Saturday but won Monday.
DSU faced off against Dominican University Saturday and fell 1-0, snapping its season-high seven-game winning streak.
The Trailblazers outshot the Penguins 9-3 in the first half, but neither team was able to get the ball in the net. This was the game of tricks—shots that were open and looked good would continue to bounce off the crossbar.
“We had wide open shots in front of the goal [tonight] that we overshot,” head coach Kacey Bingham said. “We broke them down. We just did not have the mental edge to finish.”
DU broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute with the ball hitting the back of the net just outside the reach of senior goalkeeper Angelica Ciucci.
Neither team was able to score after that, but not by lack of effort from the DSU side. The Trailblazers outshot DU 12-5 in the second half and 21-9 for the whole game but were never able to find a score.
“[This loss] will put a fire in us and we will come out stronger for our final three games,” said freshman defender Bailey Kroll said, a business major from Meridian, Idaho. “We can still win this conference, we just have finish strong.”
After DSU narrowly lost to DU Saturday, and with postseason play just around the corner, DSU needed to beat Notre Dame de Namur University and continue to win out to secure a spot in the playoffs.
With the score tied 1-1 and under six minutes to play, it looked as if the game would end in a tie and nearly shut the door on the playoffs for the Trailblazers.
Redshirt senior forward Erica Gonzalez came to the rescue with an unassisted 30-yard dagger that put the Trailblazers on top for good.
DSU struck first in the match with a goal from senior midfielder Alexis Torres in the 24th minute. The goal was assisted by freshman forward Kamie Hunter who got it to Torres before she scored from 10 yards out.
The game remained 1-0 until NDNU tied it in the 74th minute as the Argonauts were able to connect from 10 yards out.
After DSU retook the lead, every Argonaut attempt to tie the score was foiled by the stingy Trailblazer defense. Junior defender Montana Hadley made a diving stop near the goal in the final minute to secure a 2-1 victory.
“The intensity from the bench to the field was outstanding, and I think they contributed to our success,” said freshman goalkeeper Felicity Tarr, a chemistry major from Tucson, Arizona. “We have to keep up the intensity. We have to win out and play like Dixie.”
At 10-6 overall and 8-3 in Pacific West Conference play, DSU hosts Concordia University-Irvine Thursday at Legend Solar Stadium at 7 p.m.
