‘Cats lose focus, not games
Saturday, the Bobcats tied Armstrong Atlantic State University 2-2, and Tuesday, the team dominated Georgia Southwestern State University 5-1.
In both contests, the Bobcats allowed goals with just under two minutes left. While the game was well in hand against Georgia Southwestern, the late goal Saturday night proved costly against the Armstrong Atlantic Pirates.
The Bobcats led 2-1 until the Pirates scored a goal with 1:49 remaining in the game and the score stayed the same through double overtime.
“It’s one of the most disappointing moments, allowing a late goal,” Head Coach Juan Pablo Favero said. “It was a lack of concentration.”
“A tie like this against these guys is almost like a loss to us,” senior forward Hayley Ferrell said. “It’s frustrating. They’re a good team, we really wanted to beat them.”
Armstrong Atlantic outshot the Bobcats 22-11. It was just the second time all season the team did not outshoot its opponents.
The team rebounded nicely against the Georgia Southwestern State University Hurricanes Tuesday night, winning 5-1 in a one-sided match. The team set a new school record with an astonishing 46 shots.
The Bobcats spread the wealth, with seven different players figuring in the scoring either by goal or assist. Despite narrowly missing the shutout, the Bobcats’ defense again proved dominant, allowing a mere two shots.
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While happy that his team emerged victorious, Favero was less than pleased with his team’s performance. For the second consecutive game, the Bobcats allowed a goal with just under two minutes remaining.
“We fell down to their level, we didn’t play consistently at our level,” Favero said. “We need to play with the same intensity and play at our level. We should have learned from Saturday. We have to remain focused for 90 minutes and get better at closing out games.”
With a win and a tie, the Bobcats move to 8-1-2. They sit fourth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II Southeast Region Poll. The team continues to maintain a fantastic goal disparity over opponents, having allowed five goals while scoring twenty-eight. Among Division II schools, the team is tied for sixth nationally in shutout percentage and eighth in goals-against average and save percentage.
Mary Rob Plunkett continues to be a dominant goalkeeper. With her great play, she has earned a D-II national ranking of ninth in goals against average and eleventh in save percentage. She leads the Peach Belt Conference in both categories.
The Bobcats’ next three games are all on the road. Saturday, the team faces their coach’s old team, Newberry College. The game should prove interesting, considering the fact that coach Favero is familiar with many of Newberry’s players and vice-versa.
“I coached many of the players still there and recruited and signed many of them,” Favero said.
After Newberry, the Bobcats will again face off in conference action, traveling to face the University of South Carolina at Aiken next Wednesday. Next Sunday, the road play continues, when the team travels to face Lincoln Memorial University.
“Each of these away games will be tough in their own ways,” Favero said. “Lincoln Memorial won their conference last year, and has been in the national tournament. We have to be ready.”
The Bobcats, they cannot hurt themselves badly in the PBC ranks on the road trip, as the Aiken game is the only conference game on tap.
The season then finishes with two home games before the showdown at top-ranked Columbus State University.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 10 2008. Filed under Sports.
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