The Peak

SFU suffers setback with pair of losses

By Matt Lee, Associate Staff Contributor

Things have unraveled abruptly for the SFU women’s team after getting off to a fantastic 6-0 start. Their undefeated season came to an end when they lost to 24th-ranked Concordia by a 1-0 score in extra time on September 12.

The Clanswomen followed that with another one-goal loss to Trinity Western last Tuesday night.

But ask Shelley Howieson if she believes a record determines the skill level of a squad and she’ll scoff in your face.

Last week it was the head coach herself stating that she would never predicate the value of a team based on their record, insisting that it was how a team put themselves on the field that mattered the most.

With Marissa Antoniazzi and Lauren Lachlan both out with injuries, the Clan was unable to generate a single shot against Concordia, beaten by a 10-0 margin in the shots department. Howieson cited a lack of discipline on the field in the loss, as well as their inability to execute on their opportunities.

Goalkeeper Cassie Newbrook stopped all four shots before the team surrendered the deciding goal. With the Clan out-shot 10-0, she had to be on her toes all game.

“[Concordia] deserved to win that game, we had a couple of decent opportunities near the end of the second half where we had them on their heels, but we just were unable to put a foot on the ball,” said Howieson following the loss.

With the first defeat still fresh in the players’ minds, they marched into Langley for a game against the Trinity Western Spartans, who were 2-1-3 before the contest. And much like the Concordia match, the Spartans put the pedal to the metal against the Clan, out-shooting the Clan by 10-0 in the first half.

Once again, Newbrook had to play at the top of her game in order to keep it close. But TWU’s pressure was more than the 3rd-year student and her defence could handle, as they surrendered a goal to Spartan forward Daniela Gerig in the 13th minute. The marker would be all TWU would need to get the win.

While Howieson and the team refuse to make excuses for their last stretch of play, the loss of Antoniazzi and Lachlan can be attributed to the team’s inability to relieve pressure off Newbrook, and capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Antoniazzi, a 4th-year, and Lachlan, a 2nd-year, are huge parts of Howieson’s team and their absence has been sorely felt.

If Antoniazzi or Lachlan can find a way to get healthy enough to play, their presence will greatly stabilize the team and could get them on the right track. However, if they continue to be out, the team will have to find a way to win games without them.

With the women off for 11 days between the 16th and their next game on Saturday, the team has a chance to rally together. Now halfway through their schedule, they’ll be looking to start the second half of their season the way they began the first.