Like other times earlier in the season, just one mistake ended up costing the women's soccer team a win.
This time, it was an own-goal early on.
Head coach John Carter said his team took no shots Saturday evening against Emory University in the first half, but played notably better in the second half. It was too late, however, and another second-half goal by Emory downed DePauw, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA Div. III Championships.
"We played not to lose in the first half, and they played to win [in the second half]," Carter said. "There is a slight difference mentality-wise going in to that.
Although Emory outshot DePauw, the majority of shots taken by the Eagles didn't challenge Tigers' goalkeeper, Emma Cooper.
In the 24th minute, an Emory midfielder sent a bouncing cross from the right side of the field into the box, and a DePauw player misdirected the ball past Cooper who appeared to be coming out to control the ball.
"It happened so fast, and it was one of those unfortunate things that it hit in a bad place in front of the goal," Carter said.
At halftime, Carter told his team to recognize that they were down just one goal, and Emory wasn't playing great on offense.
Two minutes into the second half, Emory struck again. On a cross from the left sideline, the ball was corralled inside the box, and volleyed past Cooper to put DePauw in a 2-0 hole.
"We played better from that point on and we created some opportunities," Carter said. "The game was more equal from the way we played from the 18's. ... If we would've played the first half like we played in the second half, I don't know if you win, but you have a better chance."
After the goal, the Tigers managed to get off four shots, as the team increased its emphasis on spreading the ball out wide to the sidelines to expose weaker wing defenders.
"They are extremely big down the middle, and athletic," Carter said. "Their weakness is more in the width. With our size, they are better in the air than us. But it was less about what Emory was doing, more of what we were not doing."
As the final seconds wound down, DePauw couldn't find a good scoring chance. Although a Tigers forward got tripped up in the box with possession of the ball, a penalty kick was not awarded.
The team ended its season 7-11-1, and surprised many after losing the first seven games of the season. DePauw rallied to claim a No. 4 seed in the NCAC conference tournament, took down the No. 1 seed, and then won the NCAC title to proceed to the NCAA Div. III championships.
"I'm extremely proud of the team," Carter said. "The reality was they were better than the record."
