2 late goals doom Hornets
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 02:02 p.m., October 15, 2007
Updated 02:02 p.m., October 15, 2007
In a season full of losses, No. 15 might have been the toughest to take for the Emporia State soccer team.
The Hornets battled to a scoreless tie for 87 minutes Saturday before giving up two goals in the final three minutes of a 2-0 loss to Northwest Missouri State at TRYSA.
“It’s disappointing, without a doubt,” ESU coach Jim Schneiderhahn said. “That’s the way this season’s been.”
The Hornets were able to keep the Bearcats off the scoreboard in the first half and looked destined for their second overtime match of the season.
It all fell apart in the final three minutes.
Northwest’s Andrea Freeman launched a shot from the top of the box, putting it past ESU keeper Megan Martin for what would be the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
The Hornets’ emotional letdown was evident after that, as ESU surrendered another goal in the 90th minute as Amanda Deml sidestepped Martin on a run and easily tapped it into the net.
“It hurts. Every loss hurts a little more,” Martin said. “You’ve just got to take it and keep going.”
Most disheartening for ESU was that it had an opportunity to avoid a loss. The Hornets (0-15, 0-10 MIAA) have just four more matches left to get a win or tie.
“To get out of here without that feeling (of a loss) would be good,” Martin said. “It can’t be worse than it is now.”
Schneiderhahn said his team’s goal wasn’t just to play for scoreless ties, but he admitted that a draw would be a bright spot in a tough year.
“Any taste of success, no matter how small, in a season like this is big,” Schneiderhahn said. “A tie would have helped our psyche.”
ESU played without the services of forward Sarah Tetuan, who was out of town attending a wedding.
The Hornets might not have gotten the ball up to her much even if she was there.
Most of the match was played near ESU’s own goal, as the Hornets played an all-out defensive style to compensate for their lack of depth.
“It’s not pretty soccer,” Schneiderhahn said. “I don’t like to play it and the girls don’t like to play it, but it’s what we have to do.”
Northwest (4-9-1, 3-6-1 MIAA) outshot ESU 27-1 and had 11 shots on goal to the Hornets’ zero.
Amanda Miano contributed ESU’s only shot.
Martin held her own in goal for ESU, registering nine saves.
“You just have to stay in there and keep saving them,” Martin said. “If you’re playing goalie and you don’t like to make saves, you should be doing something else.”
The Hornets play their final home games on Friday and Saturday of this week.
Northwest Mo. State 2, Emporia State 0
Saturday at TRYSA
Northwest Mo. State 0 2 — 2
Emrporia State 0 0 — 0
Second Half
NWMSU — Andrea Freeman (Amanda Deml), 87:50
NWMSU — Amanda Deml (unassisted), 89:21
Shots — NWMSU 27, ESU 1. Saves — Lauren Hodgson (NWMSU) 0, Megan Martin (ESU) 9.
Records — NWMSU (4-9-1, 3-6-1 MIAA), ESU (0-15, 0-10 MIAA).