College of Charleston
Jacksonville
W. Soccer Drops 2-1 Decision to Jacksonville
9/7/2014 10:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Despite being the better side for large portions of the match, the College of Charleston women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Jacksonville in the final game of the CofC Cup at Patriots Point on Sunday afternoon.
Charleston (2-4-0) enjoyed long spells of quality and possession and posed several threats at an equalizer, but it proved evasive. The Cougars outshot the Dolphins, 15-6, and attacked until the final second, but Sarah Sierra, all-time record holder for saves in the Atlantic 10, scooped up a rolling attempt from Mary Kate Bowers as time expired.
Sarah Cardamone led the Cougars with six shots and accounted for CofC's goal, earning her inclusion on the all-tournament team. Joining Cardamone on the all-tournament team was freshman Tracey Webster for her holding-midfield play throughout the weekend.
The fireworks came early, as all three of the match's goals were scored in the first 11 minutes. Jacksonville struck first less than a minute into the contest, but the Cougars equalized in the sixth minute before JU netted the eventual game winner in the 11th.
“I thought we came out with a game plan and unfortunately weren't ready to execute,” said head coach Christian Michner. “We gave up a goal 50 seconds or so into the match and that set the tone for the match; we were on our heels from there. I thought we outplayed them; I thought we dominated the majority of the match. We certainly had enough chances to win the game, but when you have a slow start and let a team get a couple of goals on you early, you force yourself to play catch up.”
Before anything settled in, JU's Julia Burton lobbed a ball over the top of defense which put Marie Weckhurst behind the Cougars' back line for a goal just 51 seconds into the contest.
Less than five minutes later, the Cougars earned a free kick from a threatening spot and piled bodies into the box, but played a short ball to a streaking Allison Sender which shifted the point of attack for when Sender served a ball into the box, leading to a scramble at the far post. Riley Narum had a shot stifled from point blank, setting up a rebound for Rio Speller-Drews. The freshman alertly played a ball back to Cardamone at the penalty spot, setting the senior up for her third goal of the season.
The score wouldn't stay tied for long, however, as Jessica Cataldo-Ramirez swung an 11th minute ball into the box from the left flank, and Kaitlyn Bassett volleyed it home from six yards out, providing JU with goals on its only two shot attempts in the entire first half.
The Cougars peppered the Dolphin defense with chances at the other end for the game's remaining 80 minutes, but Sierra made 11 saves in the contest.
Her most notable came in the 75th minute when she came off her line to take the attacking angle away from Cardamone, who in turn attempted to chip a ball over her head from outside the penalty box. Sierra managed to retreat back to the goal line and fully extended to get her hand on Cardamone's shot, which was destined to slip just under the crossbar.
The Cougars will now have to negotiate a 5,000 foot elevation change on a trip to Fort Collins, Colo., for matches against Omaha and Colorado State. The Cougars will challenge the Mavericks on Friday, Sept. 12 and the Rams on Sunday, Sept. 14.
“We'll get back to work right away on training to prepare for two good teams in Colorado,” said Michner “We know we'll be in for a fight and be pushed to our limits. Certainly, taking a team from sea level to that altitude won't be easy. We'll be sure we have a game plan, and the players will be fit and focused and ready to put this weekend behind them.”
Players Mentioned
