Colonels battle Hilltoppers to a tie in opener
Clayton Ward
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports
Last year Colonel soccer had a very lopsided win/loss column, going 4-11-3 overall.
Things are looking up this season-especially after starting out with a tie against rival Western.
The major contributor to this season's high hopes? Experience. Eastern's two leading scorers returned, along with 10 upperclassmen.
With experience comes change; with Colonel soccer it's a change of formation. The 2008 season will see a 4-3-3 formation, putting three offensive players on the field to increase goal production.
"We have been working on a lot of combination play and getting around the defense," said senior midfielder Alison Gajus.
Eastern also has six newcomers joining the team. Among them are two goalkeepers, two midfielders and two defenders.
"We have two Canadians. They are both really strong players," Gajus said, referring to midfielder Heather Bruce and defender Stephanie Murray.
"[Stephanie] has been starting in the back and been doing a very solid job so far we hope to keep her back there," she said/
Both girls played almost the entire game against the Hilltoppers.
During the soccer version of the Battle of the Bluegrass last Sunday, after a scoreless first half, Western went up 1-0 with 17 minutes left in the second half.
Eastern's offense made a final surge deep into Hilltopper territory, allowing Heather Bruce to fire the shot that tied the game with six minutes left in regulation.
"We battled from start to finish," head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. "It was a complete team effort. Players off the bench played hard, and our back line battled around the goal. That's what we expect out of this team."
On the day, Western's had six shot attempts. Eastern only had one.
"Our defense was really, really on [against Western], but we will probably work on offense next week in practice" said Gajus.
Coach Basalyga believed Eastern's goal was a direct result of pressure put on Western's back line the entire game by Ismer and Bruce.
Last year Western took the offensive and didn't let go, winning 6-2. This year's 1-1 tie may help tell the Colonels' foreseeable future to an extent-especially in comparison to last year's team.
"We have a lot of young talent…every year we get better and better freshman," said Gajus. "The team we have right now is the strongest roster I have seen in the past four years."
Eastern will be traveling to Chattanooga, Tenn. to face off against Tennessee-Chattanooga next Sunday at 1 p.m.
Things are looking up this season-especially after starting out with a tie against rival Western.
The major contributor to this season's high hopes? Experience. Eastern's two leading scorers returned, along with 10 upperclassmen.
With experience comes change; with Colonel soccer it's a change of formation. The 2008 season will see a 4-3-3 formation, putting three offensive players on the field to increase goal production.
"We have been working on a lot of combination play and getting around the defense," said senior midfielder Alison Gajus.
Eastern also has six newcomers joining the team. Among them are two goalkeepers, two midfielders and two defenders.
"We have two Canadians. They are both really strong players," Gajus said, referring to midfielder Heather Bruce and defender Stephanie Murray.
"[Stephanie] has been starting in the back and been doing a very solid job so far we hope to keep her back there," she said/
Both girls played almost the entire game against the Hilltoppers.
During the soccer version of the Battle of the Bluegrass last Sunday, after a scoreless first half, Western went up 1-0 with 17 minutes left in the second half.
Eastern's offense made a final surge deep into Hilltopper territory, allowing Heather Bruce to fire the shot that tied the game with six minutes left in regulation.
"We battled from start to finish," head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. "It was a complete team effort. Players off the bench played hard, and our back line battled around the goal. That's what we expect out of this team."
On the day, Western's had six shot attempts. Eastern only had one.
"Our defense was really, really on [against Western], but we will probably work on offense next week in practice" said Gajus.
Coach Basalyga believed Eastern's goal was a direct result of pressure put on Western's back line the entire game by Ismer and Bruce.
Last year Western took the offensive and didn't let go, winning 6-2. This year's 1-1 tie may help tell the Colonels' foreseeable future to an extent-especially in comparison to last year's team.
"We have a lot of young talent…every year we get better and better freshman," said Gajus. "The team we have right now is the strongest roster I have seen in the past four years."
Eastern will be traveling to Chattanooga, Tenn. to face off against Tennessee-Chattanooga next Sunday at 1 p.m.