The women’s soccer team struggled last week as it lost to conference opponents Point Loma and Azusa Pacific. After starting off the conference schedule with two wins in northern California, the Lady Seasiders have been unable to duplicate their California success at home with four straight conference losses at home. With the loss against Point Loma and Azusa Pacific, the women’s soccer team fell to a 2-4 record in conference and 3-8 overall and find themselves in the middle of the Pacific West Conference standings. “They were not the results we wanted, but we still have a lot to play for and are going to finish the season with a bang,” said junior Captain Sarah Bodily. The women’s soccer team faced a tough match up on Oct. 9 against Point Loma Nazarene. The Lady Seasiders got off to a hot start as Bodily connected with a cross from McKenzie Evans, but Point Loma’s goalkeeper made the fingertip save. Later on in the half, Tess Hobbs was barely unable to get on the other end of a through ball. The Lady Seasider defense, led by Tiffani Rice and Jana Wall, kept the score tied at 0-0 at the end of the first half. In the second half, Point Loma broke away in the 79th minute when a free kick was headed in to give Point Loma the 0-1 lead. BYUH was unable to respond and lost 0-1 to Point Loma. In a quote from Coach Davis on the BYUH Athletics website, Davis said, “We are a really good team. Our girls are very mentally strong and tough as nails. We are going through some growing pains, but we are going to work it out.” Two days later the women’s soccer team faced Azusa Pacific. Despite strong play by Rice, BYUH fell behind 0-1 in the 30th minute. That proved to be the only goal of the match as both BYUH and Azusa Pacific struggled to find the back of the net in the second half. “I am proud of the girls, they fought hard and gave it their best effort. Unfortunately the ball just didn’t bounce our way,” said Rice, a junior from Roseville, California. The women’s soccer team will face Hawaii Pacific in Kaneohe on Friday, Oct. 17. -
Writer: Matthew Roberts ~ Multimedia Journalist
