DCWS Looks to Bounce Back After Dropping a Pair
(Defiance, OH) The Defiance College Women’s Soccer Team was tested the past week with two very tough opponents. Coming into this past week at 1-3, they played two strong opponents, both a part of the Ohio Athletic Conference, and both who have had multiple tournament appearances.
They started off this away stretch at Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, Ohio. Ohio Wesleyan came into this game at 4-1, with an appearance in the previous year, along with a national championship at one point for women’s soccer.
This was the women’s first away trip, or business trip as they like to refer to it as, because it should not feel like a vacation. The game started off in favor of the Bishops, with a quick goal in the 6th minute followed by one in the 14th. OWU was able to tack on two more before time ran off in the first half, but the damage was already done, with DCWS being down 4-0 at half.
The women came out with a new found motivation for the second half, and were able to put together a few good runs with several shots on goal. This did not stop the Bishops from being able to tack on two more though, one in the 64th minute and one in the 66th minute.
DCWS were able to muster 12 shots on goal in the 6-0 loss, while they had 9 total saves. The women are not letting this game affect them, and are doing their best to learn from these experiences so that they are ready when conference rolls around.
They followed the game at OWU with a game under the lights at the University of Mount Union, to play the Purple Raiders. Playing their second away game, at a beautiful complex on a perfect night, DCWS again fell behind early with a quick goal by the Purple Raiders in the 2nd minute, followed by another in the 12th. Defiance continued to fight, but they could not stop Mount Union from pulling off another goal in the 35th, and two more in the 2nd half, one in 57th and one in the 78th.
DCWS were able to muster 3 shots on goal against the strong opponent, who was an automatic NCAA bid the previous year.
After the game, freshman Chelsey “Chunk” Strawser did not see these previous two games as all bad. She stated “Each game is a new learning experience. We can learn from the tough teams and we can build our team from playing them. Playing tough teams now will help us get better by showing what needs to be adjusted for conference.”
Defiance continues their season this Saturday against the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets. As always, if you see a DCWS team member, tell them good luck, and Go Jackets!
Written by Zac Bires
