The ESU soccer team traveled to Kirksville, Mo., to face Truman last Thursday. Much like their last time on the field, the Hornets’ defense would eventually break allowing a late goal by Suzanne Pelley in the 71^st minute. The Hornets were unable to match the effort and would go on to lose the game 1-0.

Goalie Katrina Goscha saved six of the seven shots on goal from Truman. Overall the Hornets were outshot in the contest 23 to five and were led by Amanda Penney and Sarah Anderson with two shots apiece. Anderson was able to put a shot on goal late in the first half providing the Hornets best opportunity for a score.

Brandon Schneeberger

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The Emporia State soccer team added another loss against the Washburn Lady Blues on Nov. 1 at the ESU Pitch, 1-2. Now ESU (1-15-1 on the season) is faced with a 12 game losing streak.

ESU has not had a win since they defeated Missouri Western, 1-0, on Sep. 17.

ESU played very aggressively during their first possession. They got a first corner kick chance and missed the shot on the goal. Even though they did not make the goal, the team was still confident. The Lady Blues’ luck was absent – a shot by WU from the middle distance in the first half hit the crossbar.

However, Washburn dominated the game with their good pass work skills. They shot the ball seven times during just eight minutes. It was a one sided game. WU kept the ball nearly the entire match. Junior goalkeeper Katrina Goscha was very busy, while the Washburn goal keeper was doing nothing. Goscha showed great defense; she did not allow any goals in the first half, even though WU tried nine shots. Near the end of the first half, senior forward Tina Commons had many chances to score, but she did not succeed. ESU finished the first half 0-0.

WU kept pushing against ESU in the second half. Finally the tie was broken at minute 73. Washburn forward Keeley Lambeth shot the ball high at the right corner. The ball went into the net over Goscha’s hand.

“It was an unfortunate goal,” Goscha said. “It was a real fluke.”

WU was never satisfied with their first goal. Nine minutes after their first goal, they had a second chance. Washburn forward Tia Stovall made a second score with her right in-step kick assisted by midfielder Ashley Taylor.

The Hornets never gave up. They were trying to keep attacking even though they did not have enough time to upset the Lady Blues. Commons shot the ball in front of the goal area at the 87th minute –the ball hit the left side of the goal net, which brought the score to 1-2, but there was no time to celebrate.

ESU did not have enough fire power for the game. Freshmen forwards Ashley Hill (four goals on the season) and Amanda Penny could not play due to illness and family-related issues.

“I appreciate to the effort of players,” said Head Coach Jim Schneiderhahn. “This game really showed we were lacking who is missing right now. It is a personal concern. We missed some players because of flu and family things. We were just short handed.”

Commons had a good performance by making her second goal of the season. Her first goal of this season was also against Washburn on Oct.15.

“I am definitely not so happy,” Commons said. “I got a lot of chances and enough opportunities. We had to score before first goal.”

Schneiderhahn was satisfied with her Commons’ play.

“Tina is tremendous,” Schneiderhahn said. “She started a little slowly this year comeback from off-season surgery. The last three weeks, she was a one of the most consistent players…she does simple things very well. We should do that more to compete.”

The Hornets now have two more games in the season. The team would like to get their first home game win in front of many ESU students. Schneiderhahn has a strong belief in his players – he does not feel any pressure about the 12-game losing streak

“I think pressure is self imposed,” Schneiderhahn said. “I can not look at that and worry about it. My job is to try and coach the girls to my best ability and hopefully be successful…it is about us trying to succeed.”

Schneiderhahn has a confidence about rest of his season, as well.

“We’ve got two more games,” Schneiderhahn said. “We try to prove to everybody that we are not as bad as we look. We are looking at the big picture. It is lucky that we have more opportunities to prove ourselves.”

JungHwan Seo/The Bulletin

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Midfielder/Forward Lauren Cathey looks to pass Sunday afternoon on the ESU Pitch. The Hornets fell to the Mavericks 1-4. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

The Emporia State University Hornets soccer team fell short to the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks by 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Hornets had seven shots on goal for the day, while holding the Mavericks to only 12.

Freshman midfielder/defender Ashley Hill scored the lone goal for the Hornets from a pass from senior forward Tina Commons during the 44^th minute of the match. The goal was Hill’s fourth of the season, while Commons added her first assist.

The Hornets had a total of nine shots on the day, seven on goal. Commons led the way for the Hornets on the day with three shots, followed closely by senior forward/midfielder Amanda Miano with two. Hill, senior goal keeper Katrina Goscha, senior midfielder/forward Raquel White, and sophomore midfielder/forward Sarah Anderson all had one shot.

Freshman goal keeper Nikki Schmitz had a total of eight saves on the day, allowing four goals.

Although the team fell short on the afternoon, they looked much more physical than in previous outings.

“Our defense especially has been working on being more physical, but as a team in general we’re trying to be more physical,” Commons said. “Sometimes we do get pushed around, and we can’t take that. We’re in college soccer and we can’t get bullied around.”

Injuries also seem to plague the Hornets this year, with three starters already out, and a fourth going down right before the game. Head Coach Jim Schneiderhahn doesn’t seem to be worried about playing his reserve players.

“Hard work is not an option,” Schneiderhahn said. “Regardless, if we had two subs on the sideline or 20, you ask any coach, hard work is not an option – it’s a requirement.”

Forward Amanda Penney works to shoot past a defender Sunday afternoon on the ESU Pitch. The Hornets fell to the Mavericks 1-4. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

The Hornets were playing the ball and playing defensively stronger than they had in past games.

“It’s our own field, so we have our own little mentality of how the ball is going to be played, and where it’s going to be played,” Commons said. “Especially with your own team, you can see and feel where it’s going to be played at.”

The Hornets still are optimistic about the upcoming games.

“We have to keep working hard, keep our heads up,” Hill said.

“They say losing is character building, we’ve got a lot of character over the past two years,” Schneiderhahn said. “I think losing is certainly a harsher critic, where your mistakes are exposed. I think in the euphoria of wins, you have a tendency to overlook your mistakes or discount them a little bit. We continue to look at film, make adjustments and get better. We still need some other players to give us a hand. The biggest thing I take from it; I like the way that we’re battling. As I told the girls after the game, I have no qualms with the effort in the past matches. I have no disappointment and I’m not ticked off with the lack of effort. It’s nice to see, because sometime we haven’t had that.”

The Hornets will be back in action at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at the ESU pitch against the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats.

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