Griz kickers fall flat in Weber State match
10/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Montana soccer team was lacking "competitive fire" this weekend.
"We haven't been playing as well as we can," said UM head coach Betsy Duerksen. "We ran out of gas. We were flat, lethargic, whatever you want to call it."
Duerksen wasn't happy after the Grizzlies dropped their first conference game of the season to Weber State 2-0 in Odgen, Utah, on Saturday.
"The way we played, I can't really think of anything we did well," said UM defender MacKenzie Murphy.
The Wildcats improved to 3-0 in Big Sky play, while UM fell to 2-1 in the conference, 6-8-2 overall.
WSU freshman Linsey McFarland scored her second game-winning goal of the season in the 35th minute and junior midfielder Kacey McDonald added a goal in the second half to pace the Wildcats.
The offensive problems continued for the Grizzlies, who were outshot 16-10.
"We were just a step too slow in everything," said UM junior forward Tara Schwager.
Much of the team is hurt.
Sophomore defender Shawn Destafney, who hurt her left foot in a match a few weeks ago, played in only part of the game.
Freshman forward Kathy Williams, who went down with an apparent knee injury in last Thursday's match against Idaho State, is likely out for the rest of the season.
And just about everyone else is limping.
"We need to rest," Duerksen said. "We need to resurrect our competitive fire and we need to focus."
The Grizzlies will have an extra day to rest compared to previous weeks, but this weekend's loss is fresh on their minds.
"We didn't do anything," Murphy said. "We were waiting for a leader to step up and no one did. We won't let this happen again."
After a two-day break the team will begin practice as usual on Tuesday. The Griz have one more match this week Friday at Northern Arizona, before their next home match on Halloween against Portland State.
"We haven't been playing as well as we can," said UM head coach Betsy Duerksen. "We ran out of gas. We were flat, lethargic, whatever you want to call it."
Duerksen wasn't happy after the Grizzlies dropped their first conference game of the season to Weber State 2-0 in Odgen, Utah, on Saturday.
"The way we played, I can't really think of anything we did well," said UM defender MacKenzie Murphy.
The Wildcats improved to 3-0 in Big Sky play, while UM fell to 2-1 in the conference, 6-8-2 overall.
WSU freshman Linsey McFarland scored her second game-winning goal of the season in the 35th minute and junior midfielder Kacey McDonald added a goal in the second half to pace the Wildcats.
The offensive problems continued for the Grizzlies, who were outshot 16-10.
"We were just a step too slow in everything," said UM junior forward Tara Schwager.
Much of the team is hurt.
Sophomore defender Shawn Destafney, who hurt her left foot in a match a few weeks ago, played in only part of the game.
Freshman forward Kathy Williams, who went down with an apparent knee injury in last Thursday's match against Idaho State, is likely out for the rest of the season.
And just about everyone else is limping.
"We need to rest," Duerksen said. "We need to resurrect our competitive fire and we need to focus."
The Grizzlies will have an extra day to rest compared to previous weeks, but this weekend's loss is fresh on their minds.
"We didn't do anything," Murphy said. "We were waiting for a leader to step up and no one did. We won't let this happen again."
After a two-day break the team will begin practice as usual on Tuesday. The Griz have one more match this week Friday at Northern Arizona, before their next home match on Halloween against Portland State.
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