 | | | Jordan Marada (#10) offered SMC's best first-half chance for a goal. At the 26:59 mark she had a 20 yard shot that hit the far post. Photo Tod Fierner
| | | | | | In an October 2nd matchup against #18 Cal, the Saint Mary's Gaels women's soccer team found themselves down 2-0 in the second half. For Gaels' teams in the past, it could have been just another day. But the Gaels powered past the Golden Bears in the final minutes, scoring twice and finishing with a 2-2 tie.
"They (Cal) are a very talented team that have won a lot of big games," Gaels coach Kia Edwards said after the game, "and we're still coming into our own - and for that group to be down two-zero to a team like that... it's exciting."
Four years ago, the Gaels were 3-11-4 and won just one in-conference game. Fast forward to the present, where Edwards is now in his second year as head coach of the Gaels, and his team sits at 7-3-3 and won their first conference game on Sunday.
"I think our kids are starting to learn" he said on Sunday, "that this isn't the program of old, when you're just happy to get through the day and the season. Their job is to win games... I think our kids need to understand, life is fun in college soccer, and all that, but there is also the business part of it - your job is to win."
The Gaels first conference win was against San Francisco; Saint Mary's held the ball for most of the game and took 20 shots while holding the Dons to nine. In the fiftieth minute, Jordan Marada's deflected pass found freshmen forward Briana Campos who smacked it in.
For Edwards, it's all business. "To only have three losses in thirteen games is solid, but to win and shut out a team, the confidence is there," he said. He reiterated that is the team's "job" to win these games, especially games against local rivals like San Francisco, Santa Clara and Berkeley.
The Gaels played a strong preconference schedule and Edwards cites the tough play in helping build his team's confidence. "(The schedule) allowed us to get more players on the field," he said, noting the example of freshman defender Melinda Madden. Madden was named a starter after an injury to senior Caroline Shevlin, and played a combined 200 minutes in the Gaels road games against Arkansas and Southern Mississippi University. "It allowed a lot of our kids to get confidence," Edwards said, "and for us to get confidence in them."
As the Gaels move fully into the conference schedule - with home games against WCC powerhouses #15 Santa Clara and San Diego - Kia hopes the confidence build up from a strong start can continue for the Gaels. "Our greatest strength is our team effort," he said. "Our team is competitive, very competitive, and they work hard together."
The Gaels take on #15 Santa Clara at home on Friday, October 15 and San Diego on Sunday.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA