USF Women's soccer team played the last home game of their 2008 season yesterday afternoon at Negoesco Stadium. It was the opportunity for the Dons to honor Anika Steig, Katie Hodgson, Alexis Mielke, Stephanie Randall and Katherine Kimure who were playing their last home game ever with the Dons. The 5 players in their senior year received a deserved round of applause.
Unfortunately for the local team, the rest of the afternoon was not going to be a friendly ceremony. The visitors won possession in the first minutes, showing a superior quality allowing them to gain confidence. After 15 minutes, they started to threaten Katie Hodgson's goal and on their third chance, they finally materialized their domination when Julie Gallaudet obtained a free kick for the Lions, about 20 yards from the goal, slightly on the right side. Lacey Bartels crossed the ball to Amanda Lernor who volleyed it at the 6-yard line. Hodgson saved the first attempt, but on the rebound, the defender didn't miss her second chance (0-1, 19th) Dons' Midfielders Kristina Hall and Katherine Kimure, the best two USF players yesterday, then tried hard to bring some good balls to their forwards, but this was not enough to really threaten the Lions who reached the break with a 1-goal lead.
The Dons had their chance in the beginning of the second half. With a better possession, the midfielders finally managed to reach their forwards. But the Lions' goalkeeper Alyssa Clark and defenders, lead by an excellent Amanda Lernor, were always here to stop the locals' attempts and, on a counter attack, Lily Sorentino found Kristen Garcia head in the box for the 0-2 (57th) Frustrated, the Dons never showed they could come back in the game and the Lions (9-6-3) earned a deserved win. The last game of a difficult season for the Dons women's soccer team (5-12-2) will be next Saturday at Pepperdine (Malibu, Calif.) next Saturday (Nov. 8 at 1pm)
