Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- Women's soccer kicked off the season with a noon start time Friday afternoon in Anteater Stadium, and was on the hard-luck end of a 1-0 loss to Auburn.
The crushing blow came just before the half as Auburn (1-0-0) lined up for a free kick from beyond midfield. Kala Faulkner blasted a high lob that bounced through the box and onto Charlotte Van Ishoven who headed it over the leaping Corey Tobin and in sparing seven seconds in the half to take the 1-0 lead.
The Anteaters (0-1-0) responded well after giving up a majority of the first half possession and not putting a shot on Tiger keeper Sarah Le Beau, punctuated by their best chance in the 68th minute.
Alex Karlowitsch gained possession and tracked across the box smashing a shot on the run high at the goal. Le Beau made a last-second stretch to tip the shot just over the crossbar and keep the advantage for Auburn.
That went down as UCI"s lone shot on goal while they put up four altogether. Auburn finished with eight total, and four that Tobin had to deny, all adding up to a 1-0 victory for the Tigers.
Sophomore forward Kiana Palacios had two of the 'Eaters' shots and felt like her team's effort was there outside of the execution,
"I think we went out really aggressive, first and second half, but I feel like we started to slow down a little and gave them a lot of space when we needed to keep that intensity up and step into the tackles more."
Assistant coach P.J. Woolridge reiterated her remarks,
"In a lot of ways we played well. Some areas we certainly have to clean things up. We played against a good team that exploited those things. Looking at that goal, even though it was a set piece, there were six or seven things we could have done differently well before the strike. Super disappointed with the result, but for the first game, we responded well from one half to the next."
The Anteaters were already in a precarious position with the early, midweek start time, but Woolridge was adamant that it didn't play a role in the match,
"These girls are great. They train early, they train at night, they play early games, late games, certainly won't use it as an excuse. We played a really good team that certainly deserved a win, and it's our job to deal with it and be ready for the next one. We're playing against good, quality competition, and when you schedule like we do, you're going to see that."
Head Coach Scott Juniper raced to make his transatlantic flight after the match. Determined to be present for his sister's wedding and be there for his squad, he plans on being on the sideline for the Monday night match against Idaho State in Anteater Stadium starting at 7:00 p.m.
Seven Anteaters made their collegiate debuts on the afternoon, namely Elizabeth Hutchison, Nayeli Requejo, Lindsay Hennon, Lili Andino, Shelby Lee, Aleah Kelley, and Jonnae Joseph. Brittany Doan also worked her way in to make her Anteater debut.
The loss puts the 'Eaters at 2-7 in openers under coach Juniper and 1-4 at home. Overall, the program is 14-15-3 to open the season and 6-7-1 in home openers.
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