2008 Woodie Awards
Women's soccer wins first conference game
By: Christian Del Razo
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Sports
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The goals for the Wildcats, in their 2-1 win, were scored by senior forward Melissa Lindsay, who headed the ball into the goal off a free kick, and senior Abby Stretch, who scored a goal off a header following first-year teammate Jaclyn Thomas' cross from the right side.
"I think we've been playing very well, we just finally connected on a few of our opportunities," head coach Kim Sutton said.
Conference play started with a pair of consecutive scoreless ties with Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona and a pair of losses to Cal State San Bernardino and San Francisco State.
The San Francisco State loss came Friday in a 1-0 decision.
The win, however, puts Sutton and her team back in contention for the CCAA North Division title.
"It's a long conference race and everyone's good," Sutton said. "You certainly can't count anyone out being only five games in."
The team returns home to play Cal State Stanislaus today in another CCAA divisional matchup followed by a conference grudge match Friday against Cal State L.A.
"We're definitely looking forward to playing them because of last year," senior Wildcat captain Katie McIntosh said. "Those of us who played them last year really want to beat them during regular play and not PKs."
Last season's loss to Cal State L.A. came in penalty kicks following two scoreless overtime periods. Ironically, the week before, the Wildcats beat the Golden Eagles in a similar fashion.
The Wildcats needed to maintain their focus on goals and be more selfish in terms of shooting the ball rather than passing it Sunday, Sutton said.
"We're as good as any of the teams we've played," she said. "It's just a funny sport and we have to shoot more than we are."
Stretch hopes the victory will lead to a winning streak, she said.
"It felt amazing scoring that goal and shutting the door on that team," Stretch said.
Lindsay's goal came as a result of a practiced standard option free kick, Sutton said.
"Abby's just good at chipping, and Mel's good in the air, so it just works," she said.
The free kick was set up at the top of the box, when two Wildcat players ran over the ball before a third, Stretch, came in and chipped the ball into the middle of the box. Sitting there was Lindsay, who found it in midair.
McIntosh was relieved after the 'Cats were able to come away with the win. She called it a "calm and well-placed" game for the Wildcats, she said.
"We all felt like we really had fun today," McIntosh said. "It was something we felt like that was missing."
Christian Del Razo can be reached at
cdelrazo@theorion.com\
Women's soccer schedule
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