Women’s soccer team’s struggles on offense continue

The Lewis & Clark women’s soccer team played University of Puget Sound (UPS) on September 23rd and Linfield on Sept. 24th in a weekend double header.

The Pios have averaged 1.67 goals per game and have allowed 2.5 goals per game in the early season. The ladies currently have a record of 1-1-4 and are 0-0-2 in Northwest Conference play after losing to Whitman and Whitworth. So far, freshman McKenzie Wingard ’21 leads the team with three goals.

At home, the Pios started off the game with three straight shots that UPS goalkeeper Jamie Lange ’19 defended against. As the first half went on, UPS answered back with three chances of their own. The game stayed tied until the 38th minute when UPS midfielder Tayla McPherson ’20 scored in the box off a deflected shot, giving the Loggers the lead in the game.

In the second half of the game, both teams fought for control of the ball producing very few shots on goal on either end of the field. The Pios continued pursuing an equalizer. In total the Pioneers had nine shots and only six on target while UPS had 14 shots on goal and only 12 on target. Caroline Hennes ’20 and Sarah Howard ’20 both had a team high of two shots on goal. Goalkeeper Megan Sawyer ’21 had 10 saves in this game.

In the second part of the weekend double header, the Pioneers travelled to Linfield College and lost 1-0. The lone goal in the game was scored by Linfield’s Baylie Cameron ’20 in the 27th minute. Sawyer came up with eight saves from nine shots. The Pios in total were outshot 29 to eight in this game. Caroline Hennes ’20 took the only shot of the first half which went just to the right of the right post.

“I think we need to work on playing easier passes to each other, meaning on the ground rather than in the air, so that we can combine more on the field,” defender Emily Tash ’21 said after the game. “These are adjustments that will hopefully turn losses into wins.”

Tash also noted where the team succeeded.

“I thought that we worked really well off the ball and for each other,” Tash said. “There have been a few injuries in key positions”. This has contributed to the slow start the Pios have had this season. Tash is optimistic in the long term and believes that as the freshman get integrated into the squad, the team will be more cohesive.

The next home game for the Pios is on Oct. 7 against Pacific University.