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Oct. 18, 2006 Hello Cardinal Soccer Fans!
Last weekend the Cards (11-3-1) traveled over 2,400 miles by air and ground for Big East play. After flying into Tampa, FL last Thursday, we took on the University of South Florida. As has been the case almost all season, the opposition came out strong, with an upset on their minds. We matched their intensity and entered halftime at 0-0, in no small part due to two world class saves by our keeper, Joanna Haig. The second half saw us dictate more of the play but regulation ended scoreless. With one minute to go in the 1st OT, senior defender Amy Seng took a free kick from just inside midfield. She sent a long floated ball into the box, where Mallory Lampson got a head on it. The ball sailed just over the outstretched arm of the USF keeper and dropped in for our third OT win of the season! Saturday morning we were off to Tampa airport for a flight into Chicago. From Chicago, we bused to Milwaukee and headed over to Shannon Smyth's house, one of our players, for a great dinner! Exhausted from the travel and OT game, the team turned in early, with thoughts of last year's nemesis, Marquette, on their minds. Sunday morning brought a crisp, cool Wisconsin day. Right from the kickoff, we were the aggressor but failed to mount a significant scoring opportunity. Once again, the halftime whistle blew with the scoreboard showing zeros. The second half kicked off and the game went back and forth. With just over 5 minutes remaining in the game we gave up a corner kick to the Golden Eagles. A miscommunication in the box, a ball off the post, and we were down 0-1 with little time remaining. We sent numbers forward trying to send the game to OT, but a stingy Marquette defense thwarted our efforts. The team was crushed, losing on a late goal, in a game we really felt like we could win. The fatigue and travel had taken its toll on the players late in the game and once again a match was decided by a set piece. There is a very small margin of error in a conference like the Big East. We have won and lost those types of games but that didn't make the loss sting any less. We arrived at Louisville International Airport a little after 11:00 pm Sunday night and headed for campus. Up next, a four day trip to New Jersey for games against Seton Hall and Rutgers which will determine our seeding in the Big East Tournament. Go Cards! Coach Ferguson |
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