BY JEFREY CANOVA, SPORTS STAFFER
(Photo: GoBonnies)
Duquesne University women’s soccer beat St. Bonaventure University, dropping the Bonnies’ record to 3-3-5 and ending their three-game unbeaten streak in the Atlantic 10 (2-1-1).
In the first 10 minutes, the Bonnies controlled the game’s tempo after creating a few chances through sophomore fullback Hannah Walker’s overlapping runs and freshman Olivia Allen troubling the Dukes’ right-sided defense with her blistering pace. In the fifth minute, Allen could’ve given the lead for the Bonnies after a precise long-ball pass from Walker. However, Duke center-back Karley Steinher blocked Allen’s shot from entering the open net.
Near the 18th minute, the Dukes (5-5-2, 2-0-2 A-10) changed the game’s momentum until halftime, holding onto more possession and creating clear-cut chances, including a shot from graduate student forward Jaimi Araujo that miraculously hit the post. The Dukes ended the first half with six shots (two on goal) while the Bonnies had six shots (one on goal).
Donny George, the Bonnies women’s soccer coach, said the team’s halftime talk involved the adjustments to counter Duquesne’s forward line for the second half.
“They play with the two center forwards, very physical, very direct team,” George said. “We felt like we needed to adjust to try and counteract that. So we changed our shape to match them.”
The Bonnies began the second half similarly to the first by taking advantage of Allen’s pace on the left flank. The Bonnies had another chance to open the deadlock when, in the 48th minute, freshman defender Lauren Westwood’s free-kick attempt hit the crossbar.
However, the Dukes displayed their composure as 10 minutes into the second half, they dominated possession and created more chances through their corner kicks. In the 67th minute, a Steinher header gave the Dukes its opening goal.
A miscommunication in the Bonnies’ defense led to a costly turnover, which Dukes’ forward Brianna Moore capitalized, scoring the team’s second goal in the 72nd minute and her fourth goal of the season. After the second goal, the Bonnies struggled to create more chances for the rest of the game.
The Dukes finished the game with 14 shots, five on target. The Bonnies ended with ten and only one on target.
George said Duquesne’s tactics succeeded in containing sophomore forward Ami Komori, who scored a hat trick against Fordham and is the Bonnies’ top goal scorer for the season.
“As soon as she got the ball, it was one or two versus her, so they were able to shut her out of the game,” said George. “We tried to get Ami on the ball in their pockets of space, but because of how their midfield was set up, they had four central midfield players. It was difficult for us to get her on the ball, and we tried to get the ball out wide, and we felt like that was the area we could hurt them.”
The Bonnies will return to action against the University of Richmond (2-5-3; 0-2-0 in conference) on Sunday, Oct. 1, for a non-conference match.
George said the off week will benefit the team after the tough loss against Duquesne.
“The good thing is we do have a bye week, so that gives us plenty of time to be on the soccer field and the practice field to work on the things that you know we need to improve on,” said George. “Again, everything comes from our game model and style of play. That won’t change, and we have to get better at it.”
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