The Vandals look to add on to the homecoming celebrations as they search for their first win in nearly a month.
After the Vandals had been away for consecutive weekends, they finally return home. The Vandals ended up losing the game 2-1 against Northern Arizona University Friday night here at the Kibbie Dome.
Now it’s not the fact that they’re playing bad because they aren’t; it’s a matter of the lack of final executions. That as well as the fact that during the actual season, things get tougher than anticipated.
“They gave everything they had; they fought, they battled,” head coach Jeremy Clevenger said. “You know conference games are tough games and sometimes they go your way and sometimes they don’t. When they do that, you know I can’t complain.”
Northern Arizona was able to make onto the scoreboard first. The vandals were a bit shaken up by what happened but after the halftime, the ladies were able to regroup and get on the board.
A free kick from around the 50-yard line made its way towards the goal. The free kick was from midfielder Taylor Brust. Though we all saw it get into the goalie’s hand, what happened next is something that everyone hopes always but rarely ever happens.
This time it did. As the ball got into the goalie’s hands, it was by chance that it also got out of her hands. Slowly but surely, the ball made its way into the net and just like that, strange moment of ‘what did we just see’ but happiness as the vandals were on the score board.
“We were knocking on the door all day,” Clevenger said. “When you put the ball in the right area, good things happen. I thought we deserved the goal on the day.”
Now while on the score board, this is their chance to capitalize and try to take command of this game and gain a win for the continuous hard-fought battle of this season.
Unfortunately, the next goal that would make its way to the back of the net would be from Northern Arizona. With less than 20 minutes to go in the game, the Vandals weren’t able to come back and score.
The Vandals had multiple opportunities and took several shots but would come up short. “You could hear a player on the sideline with less than six minutes to go shout “you gotta want it.” There was a lot of determination from this team but the score would never change after going down 2-1.
The season is slowly coming to an end. It’s been a season that hasn’t really gone their way coach Clevenger said. Coach also said that they will be back next season stronger but still have business to take care of the during the current remaining games.
The next time the Vandals return to the dome will be this upcoming Sunday as they will honor their seniors.
“It’s a special game,” Clevenger said when asked about the significance of senior night. “It’s a special day to just honor the seniors and what they’ve given to the program.”
The Vandals will play Southern Utah at the Kibbie Dome at noon on Sunday.
Elizabeth Carbajal can be reached at [email protected]