Opening Weekend 2012

The bi-annual trip to Abilene for a big opening weekend against Hardin-Simmons ALWAYS proves to be a tough trip, and a meaningful one, but we would have to play a season opener before we got the chance to try and pick up where we left off in 2011.

Trinity -v- UMHB; W 3-0

UMHB appeared first on our schedule for the 2012 campaign, so we would be focused on preparing for them. A much improved side from 2011, we seemed to have a difficult time finding the back of the net. Despite a 10-2 shot advantage in the first stanza, the game would go into the locker room scoreless.

The halftime conversation was less than profound, consisting simply of an agreement that we needed to carry on doing what we set out to do, but do it far better.

Sophomore, Kelsey Falcone, having made her move from outside back into the attacking third, tallied early in the second on a 51st minute goal off a feed from first-year Kim Polasek who earned her first start in her first ever collegiate match. Two and a half minutes later, another youngster, Maggie Olvera got on the board with the second goal of the game from a Lauren Henderson setup. In the 60th minute, Kelsey would find the back of the net yet again after a great challenge from first-year Emily Donnan that freed the ball inside the box for a first-time finish. The goal would close the scoring for the afternoon.

Trinity -v- HSU; D 1-1

The always anticipated annual top 10 match up would yet again, not disappoint the suspense seeker.  We were disappointed that we were not able to come out with the win, but feel we did some things quite well, and probably well enough to get that result, but had to settle for a draw.  We did some things that were absent of quality, allowing the hosts to keep the game very closely contested, and even enabled them to develop and create some chances to win the game.

As is often the case, set pieces become critical in these kind of matches.  Perhaps most disappointing was the number of opportunities we gave up by giving corners...11...compared to earning only 1 ourselves.  The two All-Americans we opposed would combine for an early score in the 7th minute off a corner forcing us to almost immediately pull ourselves from a hole that we helped to dig!!

Carrying that deficit into the locker room at the half was certainly not ideal, but would force the issue of resolve and grit which is not necessarily a bad thing.

The second half would prove to be a great response to information and understanding of the importance  of the circumstance we found ourselves in the middle of.  While we certainly had our share of work to do on the defensive side of the ball, the girls certainly picked up their efforts, creativity and effectiveness.  In all, we almost doubled our goalscoring opportunities that we had created in the first half, and in the 62nd, Kelsey Falcone would take a pass from sophomore All-American, Emily Jorgens, after she lost the ball and regained it with immediate pressure, cut across the edge of the box and smack a great ball past the outstretched hands of a very competent goalkeeper for the equalizer.

Despite having more of the ball and the opportunities to score down to the very last second of the match, the game would end in a draw.

We headed back to Trinity 1-0-1 with another tough weekend ahead...away to UT-Tyler and UT-Dallas.  Nursing lots of little pulls and tweaks, we certainly have our work cut out for us moving forward, but in the midst of a great deal of promise!

-LK