Penalty Kick Sends Thunder Home with a Loss

September 22, 2011

ADRIAN, Mich. - It was a tough way to end the game as the Trine University women’s soccer team fell 1-0 to MIAA opponent Adrian College on a penalty kick. The Thunder are now 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.

Trine hung tough with a Bulldogs squad that has scored seven goals in just three MIAA matches.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first half. A big reason for that was the play of senior goalkeeper Jen Wall (New Haven, Ind./New Haven) who made seven saves in the first half alone. Wall made a remarkable diving stop on an open shot from Adrian’s Erin Weide.

Midway through the second half, the Bulldogs once again had a breakaway opportunity but Wall came up big again this time stopping Adrian’s Sam Barker.

At the 70:59 mark, Wall came out to make a play on Adrian’s Weide. As Wall went for the sliding stop, the official called Wall for a foul in the box and awarded a penalty kick to the Bulldogs. Barker stepped up to the line for Adrian, Wall guessed right as Barker went left but the ball was just beyond the outstretched hand of Wall. Neither team would have many scoring opportunities in the final 20 minutes as the Thunder were unable to score the equalizer.

Wall finished the night with 10 saves between the posts. Sophomore Kristin Elliot (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) led the Thunder with two shot attempts while freshman Melissa Smiles (Davisburg, Mich./Holly ) and Amy Williams (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) each tallied one.

On the evening, Adrian outshot Trine 27-to-4.

The Thunder will look to bounce back quickly as they host Kalamazoo College on September 24 at noon.