2008 Woodie Awards
Women's soccer topples Charlotte, loses to SLU
Matt Pavao
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
10/31/07 - Coming back from a loss is one of the most important aspects of being a great team, and the University of Rhode Island women's soccer team showed that this weekend.
Coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home against Fordham University last weekend, the Rams went on the road against two teams with combined records of 22-8-3, but they managed to come away playing some of their best soccer of the year.
Rhode Island dropped a 2-1 decision in double overtime to St. Louis University on Friday night and then beat the University of North Carolina, one of the top teams in the conference.
"It showed a lot of toughness to rebound from their poor showing last week," head coach Zac Shaw said. "I'm proud of how they played Friday and how they fought on Sunday."
Despite coming away with a loss against St. Louis, Rhode Island was in control for most of the game. The team out-shot St. Louis 20-11 in the game and had more shots on goal.
"They play great," Shaw said. "They play really well, played good soccer and had a good attacking style."
Senior forward Deb Nelson put the Rams on the board with her team-leading 11th goal of the season early in the first half, but despite many chances, they didn't score again.
St. Louis tied the game up 10 minutes later and the game did not see another goal until the Billikens scored the game winner 107 minutes into the game in the second overtime period.
"Unfortunately that's soccer sometimes and we didn't come away with the win," Shaw said. "We had two balls cleared off the line and their keeper made some great saves. [St. Louis] was not the better team in that game."
The Rams responded to the loss with a big win on Sunday over a Charlotte team that hadn't lost its past 12 games.
Junior forward Dora Larusdottir scored her ninth goal of the season two minutes into the game, which proved to be the game-winner.
"To go into Charlotte on their senior day, against a team that is top 30 RPI and undefeated in the conference is huge," Shaw said. "They showed the rest of the league what they're capable of."
Rhode Island will wrap up the regular season with two home games this weekend. The Rams play George Washington Friday at 5 p.m. and then take on Richmond Sunday at 12 p.m.
Shaw stressed the importance of the games leading into the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
"They're vital," Shaw said. "They're preparation for the tournament and we need to continue our play and carry it over into this weekend to improve our standing in the conference."
Coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home against Fordham University last weekend, the Rams went on the road against two teams with combined records of 22-8-3, but they managed to come away playing some of their best soccer of the year.
Rhode Island dropped a 2-1 decision in double overtime to St. Louis University on Friday night and then beat the University of North Carolina, one of the top teams in the conference.
"It showed a lot of toughness to rebound from their poor showing last week," head coach Zac Shaw said. "I'm proud of how they played Friday and how they fought on Sunday."
Despite coming away with a loss against St. Louis, Rhode Island was in control for most of the game. The team out-shot St. Louis 20-11 in the game and had more shots on goal.
"They play great," Shaw said. "They play really well, played good soccer and had a good attacking style."
Senior forward Deb Nelson put the Rams on the board with her team-leading 11th goal of the season early in the first half, but despite many chances, they didn't score again.
St. Louis tied the game up 10 minutes later and the game did not see another goal until the Billikens scored the game winner 107 minutes into the game in the second overtime period.
"Unfortunately that's soccer sometimes and we didn't come away with the win," Shaw said. "We had two balls cleared off the line and their keeper made some great saves. [St. Louis] was not the better team in that game."
The Rams responded to the loss with a big win on Sunday over a Charlotte team that hadn't lost its past 12 games.
Junior forward Dora Larusdottir scored her ninth goal of the season two minutes into the game, which proved to be the game-winner.
"To go into Charlotte on their senior day, against a team that is top 30 RPI and undefeated in the conference is huge," Shaw said. "They showed the rest of the league what they're capable of."
Rhode Island will wrap up the regular season with two home games this weekend. The Rams play George Washington Friday at 5 p.m. and then take on Richmond Sunday at 12 p.m.
Shaw stressed the importance of the games leading into the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
"They're vital," Shaw said. "They're preparation for the tournament and we need to continue our play and carry it over into this weekend to improve our standing in the conference."