Last Wednesday the USM women’s soccer team was punished by a superior Bowdoin team.
The women of Bowdoin wore all-black uniforms and towered over the USM team. They easily overpowered our Huskies and took control of the ball and the game as if they rightfully owned the field.
The final score was 4-1 in favor of Bowdoin. The only USM goal came late in the second half. It was a desperate attempt to remain in the game, already down 4-0.
Bowdoin’s playing style is relaxed compared to a USM team that was scurrying over the field trying to find an opportunity.
Bowdoin players receive a pass, dribble the ball to secure possession, and make the USM defensive players commit themselves to one-on-one coverage, before dumping the ball past the committed defender to another open space up the field where a player is waiting in a gap between USM defenders. This network of crisp passes continues while Bowdoin maintains control of the field and has USM chasing them around, teasing USM with their ease in dribbling and awaiting the right opportunity to pass the ball off, advancing toward the goal.
The game was not a conference match so the outcome was not as important as a game against a little east opponent.
Coach Steve Quinones said he has not been disappointed with the play of his team.
“We’re playing well and getting opportunities and working hard. We just can’t finish,” he said.
Both coach and captains acknowledged the importance of the upcoming games in the conference. At this point the team is 0-2 in conference games and just 2-8 on the season. The two conference losses came against difficult opponents, one being Keene State, who are expected to finish first in the conference this season.
Many of the games played outside the conference are against difficult teams like Bowdoin. USM women’s soccer has never defeated them in the history of competition.
In the cold after the loss two captains sat for interviews. A third captain, Abbey Leonard, is no longer playing. She was diagnosed with diabetes last season and her condition did not allow her to continue play this season.
“She was a senior captain,” said captain Jenny Boucher, “so obviously there was some leadership and morale lost.”
Coach Quinones said the team misses some of the scoring of Leonard because of her absence and unfortunate situation.
Leonard has left school due to her condition, but will remain eligible to play again if she comes back.
The two captains were reluctant to speak about their friend and teammate. They did say the team knew of Leonard’s condition and her inability to complete the season was expected.
Regarding the remainder of the season Jamyn Mooney, captain, said, “We’ll have to stop making mental errors and play for all 90 minutes.”
“When playing only 85 minutes of soccer, during five minutes of down time our team falls behind. We can’t win playing catch-up,” added Boucher.
Both coaches and captains agree the team needs to work on capitalizing when given the opportunity to score and to win the important upcoming conference matches.
Despite a tough start the captains remained positive. The shaky beginning that was shaded with close losses, blown opportunities, and internal misfortune will not impede later performances. The team believes they are capable of competing with any team in the conference and although they are playing with their backs to the wall, they have quick answers to solve their many problems.
They can only plunge into the stretch of conference games and cold weather with knowledge that there is nothing really to lose.