The Observer, October 5, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 6
Women's soccer falls in UAA opener
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The Lady Spartans soccer team led off their University Athletic Association schedule with a fizzle, losing 4-0 to the New York University Violets.
"The score line isn't really the best indicator of our performance. Later in the game we tried to take some risks and changed formation on attack, which unfortunately traded-off defensively. We tried to win the game and just didn't get the outcome we hoped for," said head coach Tiffany Crooks.
The Violets led off the scoring with a goal in the 26th minute by Laura Palumbo off a Lucy Dolly Caires corner kick. Neither team scored again for 43 minutes as the evenly matched teams battled at midfield.
"They were very similar to us. They had a few excellent freshmen and a new coach. Their system of play suited very well to their fast, skilled players," said Crooks of the 19th ranked NYU squad.
The win for New York University was their first since 2005 in the UAA. The victory was due in large part to the poised play of the senior goalkeeper for the Violets, Katie Barnes. She has six shutouts on the year, 45 saves, and has only allowed two goals this season.
"She was a real good goalkeeper. We just didn't get the shots that day," said Crooks.
Starting in the 69th minute, the floodgates opened for NYU, resulting in three goals in a ten-minute span.
"It was just a long trip and a really hard loss. It was a changing point for us and our season. It brings more fire; now we have to prove ourselves in the UAA," said sophomore Kaitlyn Yule.
Up next for the Spartans was the Walsh University Cavaliers (8-3-2) which took place after press time on Oct. 3 and the Saturday homecoming game against Brandeis University (6-2-1).
"Obviously it is exciting for us that the two homecoming games are soccer this year. We're going to experiment with different systems, push ourselves. Most of our opponents in the UAA are ranked regionally, so we know they will be good teams. Different than our non-conference teams, we'll have to adapt every game to the different styles of play we will see. Two teams are even ranked in the top 10," said Crooks.
The Spartans arrived in New York on Friday via plane with the men's soccer team. The New York game was the first of seven UAA matches.
"There's always that travel aspect in the UAA. The teams are always harder and the skill level is higher. Then again it's always more fun to play, the emotion is always bigger than in a non-conference game," said junior Caroline Garber.
