Soccer finds success, wins first games of season
The USD women’s soccer team turned the tides of its season over the weekend, earning wins against Chicago State 4-0 on Friday and Green Bay 4-3 in overtime on Sunday.
The two wins broke a four-game losing streak to start the season for the Coyotes, who could only manage two goals in the first five games while allowing 10.
Despite the slow start, the Coyotes believe a slow start is better than a slow finish in conference play.
“Definitely a rough start against some good competition, but it definitely prepared us for future games,” senior midfielder Elena Tsakakis said. “(It’s) nice to challenge ourselves early so we can peak when conference comes around.”
Against Chicago State, USD was able to get goals from Courtney Baker, Katelyn Floysand, Teagan Eberlle and Rebecca Sparkman to end their scoring snide while an improved defensive effort allowed them to earn the shutout.
“It feels great getting the first win,” first-year forward Sammie Villwock said. “I am ecstatic. I know everyone on the team is excited about it.”
Villwock was able to lead the Coyotes against Green Bay, scoring three goals for a hat trick and scoring the game winner in overtime. The game started out slowly for the Coyotes as Green Bay scored the first goal of the game in the seventh minute, before Corey Strang could put the equalizer on the board in the 28 minute.
In the second half, Villwock added goals in the 60 and 65 minute marks to give USD a 3-1 lead. Green Bay scored two goals within two minutes to tie the game up at three in the 77th minute.
Defense led the way for the rest of regulation, and the teams went into overtime. Less than one minute into overtime, Danielle Anderson led Villwock with a pass into the box. Villwock shot the ball off the post before it deflected into the net, sealing the first home victory of the season for the Coyotes.
“I was nervous, I did not want to miss,” Villwock said. “Then it hit the post, and I thought I was going to miss. But it went in so I’m happy.”
The wins bring the improving Coyotes record to 2-5.
“We are getting better,” head coach Mandy Green said. “That game was the best we have played the entire season, the game before that was the best one. Every game we are getting better and we are progressing, a lot of the things we have been working on we are starting to see in games.”
Green said she is happy with where the team is to begin the season and thinks it is a team effort.
“We broke our rough streak we started our season with and kind of got the ball rolling and got some momentum,” Tsakakis said. “We just knew we were capable of scoring and winning. It was nice to get that under our belts.”
USD will play their next games in Edinburg, Texas, against Texas Rio Grande Valley and Southern Utah on Friday and Sunday.
(Photo: Celebrating together, forwards Sammie Villwock and Corey Strang look for teammates to mob after a goal against Green Bay on Sunday afternoon in Vermillion. Mike Hammond / The Volante)
