Column: Defense key to women’s soccer success
“Defense wins championships” is an old sports cliché that can be applied to virtually every team sport. If the saying proves true, then the Eastern women’s soccer team has a lot to look forward to when Ohio Valley Conference play begins on Sept. 26, even after a 0-5-1 start.
Despite their record, the Panthers defense has been, for the most part, solid all season long. In three of the team’s five losses they have allowed only one goal, and the two matches that they had defensive breakdowns were against very good teams.
The Panthers lost 5-1 to Purdue, who has ranked No. 25 in the nation at the time, and they lost 4-0 to Eastern Michigan, who played Big Ten foe Michigan to a 2-2 tie earlier in the season and are 2-1-2 overall.
Of course, no matter how good the Panthers’ defense is, the offense still needs to put points on the board. But head coach Tim Nowak says he feels his team is improving with each match.
“We’re getting close,” said Nowak after the team’s loss to Eastern Michigan. “We have a lot of girls who aren’t used to playing as much as they have been. We’re doing a lot of on-the-job training and playing a very challenging schedule. But I think that we’re on the right track to compete and win an OVC Championship.”
Among the leaders of the Panthers’ stellar defense are senior Ashley Slota and sophomore Danielle Flynn. Both came up big on a number of occasions against Wright State in stopping the speed of Wright State forwards Megan Bush and Bekah Bonny.
In fact, the only goal the Raiders scored in the 1-0 loss was a header off of a corner kick that was more an outstanding play by Wright State midfielder Jess Rooma than a defensive breakdown at all.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert, who saw only two shots on goal in the match against Wright State, gave a lot of credit to the defense in front of her.
“I think the defense played very well,” Lorbert said. “They were forcing them to kick a bunch of crosses instead of actually getting shots on goal.”
Nowak has said throughout the season that offensive opportunities are created by a good defense. Unfortunately for the team, they haven’t been able to take advantage of these opportunities so far.
However, if the defense keeps playing like they have been through the first six matches, good things are sure to come.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.
