Lady Saints fail to deliver on Meyer’s prediction

Women’s soccer falls to 2-12-1 after 2-0 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic

By Michael O’Donnell

Coach Teddy Meyer gave a bold prediction Monday morning as his team prepared for Palm Beach Atlantic.

“We will win,” he said.

Meyer’s prediction to spark the team fell short, as the Lady Saints lost 2-0.

The Lady Saints came out strong dominating play and out-shooting the Sailfish 16-6 the entire game, but nothing went their way. The scoring opened up in the 18th minute when Lindsey Bates buried an unassisted goal from ten yards out to give the Sailfish a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Meg Agnew scored off a short cross in front of the net on an assist from Brandi Bianco to seal the game for PBA The loss left the 2-12-1 Lady Saints frustrated once again.

“This loss was harder than any other loss,” Meyer said. “They only had two shots the entire first half of the game. Unfortunately, they were both goals. When we shot, we shot right at the keeper. It was one of those days where nothing went our way and every team has them. In the end, we could just not score goals. It was very frustrating.”

The statistics say the same thing. Throughout the season the Lady Saints have averaged 0.80 goals a game while their opponents have 2.85.

“We are playing great in the backfield,” Meyer said. But, offensively, we are underachieving in the midfield and in the forward position because of the connection and communication. It is still a young team which is still trying to anticipate each others play, which is going to be new for awhile.”

With three tough games left on the 2006 season, the Lady Saints are not so eager to quit just yet.

“Now the girls are beginning to see that now, or never considering that their first season is almost over,” Meyer said. “Anytime you have a lot of losses it is tough. We have gone up against some very good teams. I think in a few years, the outcome will be drastically different. We have hung in with the teams we have played — maybe not the entire game, but that comes with maturity.”

The next opponent is sure to be a true test for the Lady Saints, as they prepare to take on Janaina Novaes and the 12-3 Lee University Flames. The Flames are ranked 16th in the NAIA. Novaes has 12 goals on the season and 32 points in total. Goaltender Caitlin Wohlander has been a brick wall for the Flames giving up just 0.86 goals on average.

“We are going to see them first hand when they play Embry-Riddle Oct. 19,” Meyer said. “We plan to come out hungry and tenacious. We are going to work on body position, coming out strong and scoring in the first half. Work on battling for the ball and finishing in the box, so we can take the game over. We are going to get jacked up for the game and we will see what we are made of.”