October 11, 2011
San Antonio – The St. Mary’s women’s soccer team fought until the last seconds of the match against Texas-Permian Basin, but fell short Tuesday in a game of close calls at 2-1 in its third conference loss of the season.
The Rattlers (5-5-2) started the first half with momentum with a goal eight minutes into the game by freshman Kaitie Kasperitis (Corpus Christi, Texas), whose one-timer from the right of the net from 20 yards out put the Rattlers in the lead at 1-0. The half ended with Kasperitis’ ninth goal of the season being the only goal for either team.
However, the Falcons (2-9) came into the second half with the momentum the Rattlers (2-3 in conference) had in the first with an unassisted goal by Hannah Dozier 10 minutes into the half. Texas-Permian Basin (1-3 in conference) was able to keep its momentum after its first goal by connecting again in the 71st minute with an unassisted goal by Lyndsey Thomas that closed out the Rattlers, 2-1.
As the Falcons closed in on a win against the Rattlers, the last half of the game was a scurry of aggressiveness in the Rattlers’ attempts to regain control of the scoreboard and push the game into overtime. Texas-Permian Basin outscored the Rattlers but did not outshoot them. St. Mary’s had 19 shots to the Falcons’ seven. Leia Kirch (Jr., Carrollton, Texas) led these stats with 11 shots and five gut-wrenching shots on goal that hit off the post in the second half, narrowly missing out on her fifth goal of the season.
“I just wanted one and it didn’t happen to go my way so it stinks, but you just got to keep shooting and hope for the best,” Kirch said.
Kirch has had a successful bounce back into competitive play after an injury ended her season early last year with 15 shots on goal and four goals for the season.
Andrea Gregg (Sr., Austin, Texas), Leah Snelson (So., Dallas, Texas), Ronika Cavazos (So., Corpus Christi, Texas) and Ashleigh Wells (Fr., Dallas, Texas) all banked one shot on goal each, while Kasperitis had two to round out the Rattlers’ 11 shots. Falcon goalkeeper Alexis Frueh came away with 10 saves, while Rattler Paola Ostos (So., El Paso, Texas) had two with the Falcons attempting only seven shots. While St. Mary’s outshined Texas-Permian Basin in stats, it had a hard time connecting today on the field.
“We just need to work on finishing some,” assistant coach Sean Strater said. “You know it’s hard when you outshoot (the opponent) but lose that way, but it happens sometimes and you just have to finish your chances.”
The St. Mary’s women’s soccer team hopes to connect in its next conference game against Texas A&M International at 3 p.m. Sunday in Laredo, Texas.