Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Oct. 21, 2009, edition 1 / Page 15
Part of University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 {The Blue Banner} Page 15 Bulldogs sent on two-game conference losing streak By Phillip Amos Staff Writer PMAMOS@UNCA.EDU Frigid cold temperatures and strong winds made it difficult for the Bulldogs to keep up with Charleston Southern in a 1-0 home loss. They came back Sun day and again fell with a 2-0 loss to Coastal Carolina. “Friday’s game was one of those games that just rips your heart out. We laid everything on the line, and we dominated the game against the best team in our conference. It just wasn’t enough,” defensive player Meagan Bradham said. “Our offense worked really well together and had some promising chances at goal. Our de fense made good tackles consistently, though we let in one fluke goal.” Technically, UNC Asheville won in stats and form, but fell short in what counts most, goals. “I think as a team we are all very frustrated. We are an amazing team and have phenomenal potential,” cen ter midfielder Leilani Halkiotis said. “We beat out every team we play, and yet we aren’t winning games. We just have to find our comfort ip scoring. We do an excellent job of possessing and Working the ball out of the back, and then only thing left is putting the ball in the net.” One goal eventually decided Fri day’s match between the conference opponents. The Bulldogs had control early in the match with many scoring oppor tunities, but failed to follow through with them. Asheville had a scoring chance in the first half when McKenna Stock hausen fired a shot that hit the cross bar. Katy Beeler got the rebound from Stockhausen’s miss and fired a shot from five yards out, only to be rejected hy CSU goalkeeper Jena Lalich. “Many of us are struggling with in- iury, me being one of them. Wear and tear was really slowing me down in the first half,” Bradham said. “But I came hack in the second to create lots of chances at goal and distributed well.” In both games over the weekend, the ball seemed to hit every part of the Susan Israel - Photography Editor Carolyn O Brien, falls after getting tangled with a Buccaneer forward. Right, CSU goalkeeper Jena Lalich denies Chloe McCleary-Small a chance to tie the game In the second halt tor the Bulldogs goal but the net. The ladies hoped to bounce back from the loss to CSU, but ran into the same trouble against Costal Carolina on Sunday. Coastal Carolina came into the match strong, having won their last four games, but the injured Bulldogs were still determined to give them a good run. “Today’s game was just really a let down and disappointment, especially after our game against Charleston Southern,” midfielder Ferriss Roberts said. “We play so hard, and I know we all want it. Now it’s just a matter of re ally focusing on getting the ball in the back of the net. I know at practice all week we’re going to work hard and fo cus on shooting and scoring.” The game Sunday was much like the game Friday, with UNCA’s offen sive struggles keeping the Bulldogs from a home victory. The team said their defense is play ing well and they are able to open up scoring opportunities, but they need to emphasize finishing. “As a defender I feel that I bring a really strong defender to the team,” defensive player Keri Skelton said. “Our defense is the strongest part of our team and has been for years, so we must have strong defenders to support our midfielders and forwards.” Despite losing four out of their last five games, the Bulldogs refuse to let the skid bring down their spirits. “I do not think that Charleston Southern or Coastal deserved to win either of those games,” Skeleton said. “I think that we could have easily beat both of them. However, we are having some issues scoring and if you can’t score you cannot win.” With the team’s season coming to a close, the Bulldogs said their remain ing matches are proving to be must- win situations. “The season is coming to an end so we don’t have an option but to score and, most importantly, win the rest of our games,” Roberts said. “We have some really great leaders on the team that get us pumped up and ready to go, but we need to make sure, individually, we know what we need to do to con tribute.” The team said to have any chance of obtaining their goals, they have to be consistent and pick up their offense. “We have typically been an under rated team. It’s plain to see that we are a good team with talent and drive, but we remain inconsistent. Our goal for sr.: S', -r “Today’s game was Just really a letdown and disappointment, ” - Ferriss Roberts, freshman player the rest of the season is to bring con sistency to every area on the field and play to win,” Bradham said. With the conference tournament ap proaching, Halkiotis said the team is determined to work hard and win the championship. “As a center midfielder I work hard to contribute good connections be tween the forwards and other middies,” Halkiotis said. “Winning the ball in the middle is a must. Our fans can expect four wins in the near future because we’re winning conference tournament this year. Lady Bulldogs don’t quit.” The Bulldogs will go on the road for their next two games against Winthrop and Gardner-Webb. They return home Oct. 30 to play Liberty.
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 21, 2009, edition 1
15
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75