Pony Tales: SMU Women's Soccer Blog
Sep 29 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 29, 2011
Welcome back Mustang Fans!
We opened up the Conference USA season this year with University of Central Florida and the University of Southern Mississippi at home. When the schedule came out this spring, I think we all circled this weekend as a fantastic opportunity to knock off the defending champ/preseason favorite to start conference out with a bang.
The week leading up to the games was quite different than the weeks leading up to non-conference games. When conference rolls around, the intensity and urgency of training increases. Every team that we play going forward will be a quality opponent as CUSA is getting stronger every year. We have high goals for this season, but as a team, we all realized that before we can reach the NCAA tournament, we have to win the conference. The coaching staff pushed the team in training to ensure the players were getting efficient, quality work out of every minute, on and off the field. We had a very intense and productive week of practice, and felt confident going into the game against UCF on Friday.
If you haven't played through a conference season before, then the games may come as a shock. Because of this, myself, and the upperclassmen did our best to portray the importance of every game onto the freshmen. The fishies stepped up and answered the call magnificently. The team was mentally sharp and focused going into pregame on Friday. When the whistle blew, we were ready to play. We dominated the tempo of the game for the majority of the first half, which put UCF on their heels. This also gave us the confidence to play well that we carried throughout the rest of the match. Stats at halftime were even, so we knew coming out for the second half we were in for a battle.
I can honestly say that the second half was a blur to me. I felt like the first half was the longest half of soccer I have ever played, but the second half went by in about 30 seconds in my mind. Both teams came out of the locker room energetic and playing well. Then about halfway through the second half we got a free kick about 25 yards out, just to the right of the 18-yard box.
Courtney Smith and Mallory Baum lined up to take the set piece as usual. After that, I couldn't describe to you the moments leading up to the goal, even if you offered me a million dollars. The service on the set piece was fantastic. Courtney Smith hit a low driven ball against the face of the goal. I was making my run towards the near post. I don't even remember touching the ball. This was the type of goal that if you think about finishing, you will miss. I let muscle memory take over to finish the cross. Before I knew it, my teammates were jumping on top of me! We were able to bunker down on defense and shutout UCF.
Words can't describe the feeling of the team after the game. It felt great knocking off not only the preseason favorite, but the team that ended your season a year ago. Our team took a huge step forward in our development throughout the season. We had proven we could outplay a ranked team and get a quality result.
Practice on Saturday was a regeneration run and a scouting report of Southern Miss. After the game on Tuesday and during the scouting report, the coaches reminded us of the task ahead. Each game is worth 3 points in the conference, whether you beat the preseason favorite, or the team picked to finish last in Southern Miss. To win the game on Sunday, we needed to have the same focus we had against UCF.
We started the game quickly against USM with a goal in the fourth minute from Mallory Baum. It is definitely a calming feeling to go up early in the game. We had moments of playing fantastic, and moments of playing not so great. But after a goal from Kenzie Scovill we had a nice 2-0 lead at half. We had a lapse of focus when USM brought the score to 2-1 in the 80th minute. We responded well with a goal off another gorgeous set piece from Mallory Baum. The game ended at 3-1, and the weekend ended with SMU women's soccer 2-0 in CUSA!
Our goal as a team is to win the conference, and after last weekend we are beaming with confidence. We knocked off UCF and are sitting atop the league table. We understand that we must take the games one at a time. In my four years at SMU, we have never started the conference season 2-0. I am ready for our team to get the respect it deserves for the progress we have made. Every single girl on the team played so fantastically and grinded out two wins. I am so proud of our team, but we realize there is work left to do in the conference!
This weekend we play Rice and Houston. As a Katy, Texas native, I am very excited to play against two teams from my home city. We look forward first to our game on Friday night against a very good team in Rice. Please come and support SMU women's soccer team as we look to start CUSA 3-0! And as always, PONY UP!!
