Women’s soccer returns from a long road trip accumulating a record of 1-3-0

Returning from a 14-day road trip, women’s soccer showed a lot of mental toughness as they traveled across California in a four-game road trip. Facing Concordia, Academy of Art, Holy Names and Point Loma, the Cougars returned with a record of 5-4-1, but were only able to grab one win on the trip. 

On Saturday, Sept. 28 the Cougars began their road trip in Irvine against Concordia. This was APU’s first meeting with Concordia this season. In their past six meetings dating back to Oct. 3, 2015, APU has lost five out of six, with four of those matches going into overtime. Things would be no different in this match as a close contest led to yet another overtime session between these two teams.

Concordia got out to a quick start, breaking scoring open in the 20th minute and taking a 1-0 lead. The first half as a whole wasn’t great offensively for the Cougars as they were only able to get one shot off in the first 45 minutes as opposed to Concordia’s six shots. 

In the second half, the Cougars responded as senior Emmy Koflanovich scored her first goal of the season in the 73rd minute. Although it took a while to finally find the back of the net, the game was tied and as APU has done previously this year, they were looking to make a late comeback for the win. However, the comeback wouldn’t be completed. Concordia scored the game-winner in the 91st minute sealing a 2-1 overtime victory.

Going into their second game of the road trip, the workload didn’t get any lighter as the Cougars faced Academy of Art. Fast starts have been a focal point for the Cougars this season and they were able to break through early in this one. In just the eighth-minute junior Jordan Hill scores a goal from just outside of the penalty box. She played a big role in this game, playing a total of 45 minutes and creating additional offensive chances as the game continued.

Academy of Art tied the game in the 23rd minute and the match was knotted at one goal apiece going into halftime. Considering the way the Cougars offense performed in this one, a tie at halftime was a comfortable position to be in.

In the second half, APU’s offense only got better and continued to pound away at Academy of Art’s defense, but unfortunately, the Cougars couldn’t capitalize. Tallying a total of 13 shots in the second half as well as 21 in the game as a whole, the offensive effort was there but the results lacked.

Academy of Art, on the other hand, didn’t receive hardly any opportunities at the net, but they buried the few shots they did get. Academy of Art scored one goal on just two shots in the second half, which was enough for a tight 2-1 win. 

Head coach Brooke Lincoln wants to see more effort to finish on the chances they receive. 

“I’m disappointed with the lack of drive. Most recently in the last two matches. Talent isn’t the issue but our mindset and drive is. I look forward to another opportunity to get it right Saturday,” Lincoln said per the Athletics Department.

In the third game of this road trip on Oct. 5, the Cougars travelled to Oakland to take on Holy Names. Holy Names has had a disappointing season, as they are still searching for their first win of the season. This match was a terrific opportunity for the Cougars to get back into their winning ways and they did just that.

With their offense rolling as it was, that offensive momentum continued in this one as APU tallied a total of 28 shots, a season-high, and capitalized twice in the second half while sophomore goaltender Jennifer Kovisto recorded her first shutout win of the season. With goals coming from offensive regulars in junior Maddy Morrison and sophomore Abi Hume, this was the kind of capitalization that the Cougars have been searching for, leading to a 2-0 win.

Playing the final game of this long road trip on Saturday against Point Loma, the Cougars were looking to break even and finish 2-2. However, all of the offense that the Cougars had going for them in their prior two games halted in this one. Taking a total of 49 shots in their prior two games leading up to this match against Point Loma, the Cougars got a total of three shots off in this game and the lack of shots resulted in a lack of goals.

Being shutout for just the second time this season, it was a rare sight to see the Cougars offense not come through when needed. 

With both Point Loma goals coming in the first half, that would be all that was needed to win this one, and the Cougars ended their road trip with one win and three losses. There were good and bad things to take away from this road trip, but regardless, the Cougars are just pleased to be back playing on their home turf.

Their next match will be against Concordia on Saturday, October 19 at 1 p.m at the Cougar Soccer Complex.