THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University Women's soccer team did not have the ideal start to its 2021 season Saturday afternoon, falling to RV Ottawa University Arizona 4-1 at the TU Soccer Complex.
The Green & White (0-1) were outshot 18-10, landing four shots on goal. Sophomore Goalkeeper Emily Lamoreaux played 75 minutes in the match, facing 10 shots on goal and recording six saves.
Thomas kept at bay with the Spirit (1-1) until the 34th minute, where a crucial foul in the keeper's box set up a good penalty kick from OUAZ's Cassidi Calzaretta to give the Surprise, Ariz. based squad a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Ottawa University Arizona would extend its lead 2-0 in in the 57th when Calzaretta would notch her second goal of the match after an unlucky touch slid past Lamoreaux and a shot slotted backside.
TU saw a golden chance sail left moments later (61st minute) when Junior Jana Pastorek turned a defender and aimed for the top left corner of the net.
At the turn of the 66th minute, OUAZ would push its lead further to add two more goals in a two-minute span. Haley Howard found an open Emily Lynch to give the Spirit its third goal of the contest, followed by a successful corner from Amanda Witkowski that took a bounce before being buried top-shelf by Kendall Caron.
The Night Hawks would find success in the 80th minute, as Sophomore Kayley Smith scored her first NAIA goal off the left boot with plenty of air over OUAZ goalie Cassidy Samuelson.
"Congratulations to Coach Skelly and his team; they outplayed us in every facet of the match." acknowledged Head Coach Julie Orlowski. Despite the 4-1 setback, Orlowski saw potential with the 2021 team. "We saw glimpses of the team that was so successful last year; unfortunately, we didn't see that quality enough this afternoon. On the positive side, we had several first year players play quality minutes today and they performed well."
TU by the Numbers
1: Goals Scored
7: Team Saves
8: Different Night Hawks registering a shot
18: Night Hawks recording minutes
66: Minutes played before the game's first corner kick
Thomas will return to action Saturday, August 28 for its first road contest of the season against #20 Cumberland (Tenn.). Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central Standard Time.
For up-to-date information on other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of TU Women's soccer by following them on Twitter at @NightHawksWSocc.
