“Our biggest opponent has been us recently.
“This weekend will be a true test to see what we’re made of and to see where this season is going,” said junior goalkeeper Meghann Burke. “We’re three and three now. We have a lot of games left. We can look at this as a challenge. We’ve really thrown ourselves a curveball. But teams become teams in the face of adversity.”
After a tough 3-2 double-overtime loss to Texas Christian University last Sunday, the Saint Louis University women’s soccer team is facing a new opponent-themselves. After defeating Iowa 2-0 last Tuesday, the Billikens posted their second straight 2-0 victory over the Memphis Tigers in SLU’s Conference USA opener.
SLU was on the attack throughout the first half. Ten minutes into the contest, junior midfielder Katie Zaegel broke through Memphis’ midfielders and hit a great through ball to junior midfielder Mandy Trokey. She hit a shot from the top of the box that was stopped.
With 20 minutes left in the half, Anny Lucier regained possession from Memphis and scored on a 30-yard rainbow. The shot was lofted perfectly, high enough to clear goalie Katarina Wicksell’s hands, but low enough to creep in under the crossbar.
The Billikens nearly capitalized just before halftime. Junior midfielder Shannon Myers stole the ball from Memphis and led sophomore Lindsay Potrafke. She took a shot from the near side that rolled across the face of the goal, but went wide.
SLU added an insurance goal just five minutes into the second half. Junior Jenny Kehl gained possession deep in Memphis’ end. Kehl slid the ball to freshman forward Jamie Perry. She faked around a defender and fired a shot on goal. The shot went off the near post and bounced in.
Even though SLU won, they suffered a loss that will effect the team the rest of the year. Zaegel tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee in the second half against Memphis. Zaegel had torn the ACL in her right knee last season. Zaegel has to wait for the MCL to heal before she can undergo surgery to repair the ACL.
“I heard it pop. It seemed so much like the other one,” said Zaegel. “So many people were positive about it that I was beginning to think that maybe it wasn’t my ACL. The MRI confirmed that it was both.”
“I’m disappointed that we lost Katie Zaegel for the year,” said coach Tim Champion.
“We have to regroup. We scored two nice goals and played well defensively. We moved the ball well against both Iowa and Memphis.”
The Billikens then faced TCU on Sunday afternoon. The contest looked promising for SLU, as it took a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the contest. Perry had the ball near the midfield and found Kehl streaking up the field. Kehl slid a pass through two TCU defenders to Anny Lucier. She hit a low shot that nutmegged TCU keeper Shannon Wagner.
SLU nearly took a 2-0 lead 21 minutes into the game. Perry hit a long pass upfield to Kehl. Kehl fed Lucier, who rifled a shot that beat the keeper. But the goal was called back when Lucier was ruled offsides.
The Horned Frogs capitalized on the offsides and tied the contest with 20 minutes left in the half. Ali Schloegel served the ball into the box. Laura Greenburg was anticipating the pass and was able to score from six yards out.
The Billikens recaptured the lead five minutes into the second half. Lucier was fouled. Perry restarted play with a shot on goal. The shot bounced off the crossbar, and the spin forced the ball to roll into the net.
TCU tied the contest 22 minutes later. Crystal Pratz dislodged the ball from a crowd and hit a pass across the box to Greenburg. She scored inside the near post.
The Billikens had two quality scoring chances in overtime, but the Horned Frogs tallied the game-winner in the 112th minute. Jenn Coulson broke in alone. She was able to move around Burke at the top of the penalty area and got a shot off to give TCU the win.
“It was a gamble,” Burke said. “I didn’t want to let her turn. I came out and tried to beat her to the ball and force her wide so that our defenders could come back. The ball just nicked my glove and she got around me.”
The Billikens (3-3-0 overall, 1-1-0 in C-USA) play their first C-USA road games this weekend when they face Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. and Tulane on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SLU leads the series with Houston 2-0-1 with a 1-0-1 record in Houston. The teams played to a scoreless tie last season. The Cougars enter the weekend with a 1-4-1 record and 0-2-0 in conference after losses to Charlotte and East Carolina last weekend. Houston has managed to eek out just three goals, while the defense has given up 11.
“Houston could be the hardest game on the road for us this year,” Champion said. “It will be a tough, physical contest.”
On Sunday, the Billikens travel to New Orleans to face Tulane. SLU leads the series 5-1-0 and have won the last five contests. The teams met twice last season, with the Billikens winning each matchup. SLU defeated the Green Wave in New Orleans last season, 3-2, before ousting them from the C-USA Tournament with a 3-1 victory.
Tulane is 1-4-1 heading into the weekend with a 1-1-0 mark in conference play. The Green Wave has been out-scored 17-5 on the season Sophomore Tracey Powers leads the team with four points.
“Tulane will be a tough game because they have a tough field to play on. They have the new artificial surface,” Champion said. “It’ll be a good test. We need to go and win some games this weekend.”
